It's All About the Rhythm...(2)

The beat goes on, the beat goes on
Drums keep pounding a rhythm to the brain

- Sonny and Cher

Last week, we discussed a rhythm for life that is consistently seen at practically every level, from the cellular level on up.  All of it geared toward individual work contributing to a larger and more complex operation. 

The Apostle Paul used this as a metaphor for the growth of the spiritual body of the church.  As previously discussed, the contribution of cells and organs to the successful function of our physical bodies is the foundation of the building process:  “…the body is not one member but many…” Paul understood it would take a group of differently gifted people working together in common cause for successful growth of the body of the church. 

Socrates said a similar thing regarding the development of his imagined State:

“…Our first and greatest need is clearly the provision of food to keep us alive…Our second is shelter, and our third clothing of various kinds…how will our state supply these needs?  It will need a farmer, a builder and a weaver, and also, I think, a shoemaker and one or two others…So that the minimum state would consist of four or five men…” – Plato, The Republic

Different functions…different skill sets…different people, each coming together for a larger work  necessitating, and transcending the individual contribution.  Add to this, the natural curiosity for things yet unknown, and there emerges insight in our drive for the infinite.  The spiritual growth of the church and Republic respectively, required movement forward in a never-ending series of steps advancing to the next part of the mystery.  All of this points to a continual expansion of awareness without end - an idea we frankly cannot grasp as human creatures.  We are, however, provided powerful inferences to the process, at every turn of life...suggesting a ‘no end’ purpose for life – a resolute dynamic with ever-growing possibilities.

It is good to think about the lessons we see in nature, suggesting a guiding intelligence or power that has created definable systems and natural laws necessary for life…while at the same time providing lessons for mental or spiritual growth.  It is part of the curiosity of our nature.  Not everyone, however, shares this perspective.

A different point of view

There is a considerable body of thought suggesting life has no meaning.  That it is little more than “…a lightning flash in the darkness of cosmic eternity…” This view is echoed, for example, from the words of Solomon – “…all is vanity…” – to contemporary philosophers who describe life as an empty vacuum.  When the illusion of activity is removed we are left with the stark reality of a complete void…vacant with no purpose – the apparent order and rhythm of the universe, being nothing more than the greatest deception of all.

These thinkers say life is simply an exercise in futility.  It begins with birth, ends with death and what happens in between is basically a form of self-flagellation and disappointment.  Mankind’s unrelenting curiosity and interest to ‘…learn something new…’ nothing more than the carrot in front of the donkey – a cosmic joke of theatre, occupying our time...simply a closed existence in which only the actors change…the script remaining undaunted through eternity. 

After all, the fool and the brilliant end their lives in the same way…returning to the dust from which they came.  The vast majority of people living their lives in “…quiet desperation…” with regret for the life that might have, or rather should have been.  Not realizing no matter what the journey it would be filled with regret! 

On face value, it seems hard to argue against this when confronted with the reality of abuse, death and destruction we serve on one another.  It is hard to argue for life, growth, enlightenment and transcendence, when a singularly small portion of the world’s population selfishly controls the vast majority of its wealth and half of our fellow man lives on less than two dollars a day.  It is hard to argue when armed conflict, for less than meaningful reason, wantonly kills millions of innocents.  It is hard to argue when the defenseless – women and children – suffer unjustifiable and unspeakable violence and death on a daily basis all over the world – AND, it is hard to argue, knowing these realities, and sitting in a comfortable chair writing about a purpose for life. 

Sorting a little

Selfishness and selflessness are keys to understanding life’s rhythm.  One must be absolutely selfish in order to survive…selfishly guarding time and space to acquire knowledge or skill.  Scholarship is only truly shaped in private and able skill only accomplished by practice, practice and more practice.  Selfishness begins the process in survival and thought.  Awareness of using a selfishly acquired skill for a greater purpose, however, creates the critical transition to selflessness.  If transcendence occurs in life at all, it begins at the tipping point from 'the selfish' to 'the selfless.'

Viewing the world through the lens of vacancy misses the point, or at best acts only as an observer rather than a participant.  The point?  There is a difference between ‘what is’ and ‘what should or could be.’  If we were wired for the ‘what is’ rather than the ‘what should or could be,’ these writers and events of the world would be correct – there would be no hope.  BUT IN FACT, WE ARE NOT WIRED THIS WAY!

Not surprisingly we have an inborn sense of what ‘should be.’  We do not, for example, need to be taught the destructive nature of theft, dishonesty or betrayal…we need only sense the anger and frustration when it happens to us.  We may not have a social conscience or teaching regarding the treatment of others, but even the thief dislikes being stolen from…awareness leads to the tipping point!

Additionally, we unconsciously recognize we are stronger as a collective body than as individuals – our success experiences reinforce this principle every day.  To be sure, there are exceptions, but this is the rule.

The natural order whether cells, organs, bodies, or species survival - gathering together for strength of life, commerce or spiritual growth - teach the same lesson..."...two sticks are stronger than one, and two bodies create more heat than one..."

In the end, one can take the view, life has no meaning because of all the death and destruction. In doing so, one misses great teachings of the natural law.

Ask yourself, what gives your life more quality – a sense of hopelessness, or a sense of hope?...the experience of isolation, or the experience of collective interaction?

We all have questions about purpose and meaning…it is my sense purpose is not a destination, but rather a never-ending process.  I choose, based on the patterns I see, to accept the premise  life is a refining process in the next step toward what is yet unknown. 

From the lenses of my glasses, in spite of the all uncertainties, it doesn’t get much better than that.

Next time we’ll lighten up a little…

 

- ted