The expectations, challenges, problems, mystery, and the like comprise what I see as the invisibilities of our existence. They are out there imposing themselves on us, and in here generated from our own questions, fears, and complexities about life, success or failure, or where we are in the cosmos. Everything seems so big, and we seem so small. We usually put up a brave front, and, over the course of time, we determine how to deal with all life’s stuff. We fill life context as we feel we can. But, some are overwhelmed to the point of suicide, or fall into some psychological hole, whether an abyss or just deep enough that they can’t emerge to gain normal life. As the simple is forced to give way to the complex, we may find it more difficult to cope than did past generations we believe may have a less complex life than we do.
This Page is being written in October, 2011. A few days ago Moammar Gadhafi was found, and some minutes later killed by Libyan insurgents. He was a tyrant leader for decades rising from success as an insurgent himself forty years ago. He became proud of his power, living off the labor of the masses bound by fear and poverty. He, like old King Saul, became eccentric and independent of social justice and righteousness. One of Gadhafi’s sons died with him by the acts of the same executioners, as Jonathan died with his father, Saul, in the final battle they fought together against an enemy. It would take books to tell the stories of such historical events. But there are two tragedies, one public, with international and national relief that a flawed and dangerous head of state is gone, no longer threatening to community. The realization led to jubilation that a person so evil was dead. The second point, not to be lost in the reporting, is that a person took his family down, was the cause of the untimely deaths of his children, left other family members bereft of any normalcy, wondering what the future had in store for them – in a legacy of tumult.
Perhaps seen in what we may term tiny contexts, similar drama works out for individuals. The world and life lose their proper direction for the individual, and things begin to go wrong. The family may be broken up, leaving a trail of sorrow and bitterness for its members. Excess may distort life, so the gifted businessman goes to prison for misdirection of his procedures, and greed in his person. So the various stories go. We may lose the meaning of humanity, and twist things so to put down others, evade personal progress to maturity, distort that which is good. Values are so swallowed up in distractions, in noise, in preoccupation, in selfishness that we become insurgents against ourselves. What emerges is not attractive, and does not serve well. It must give way to something else, and we are shunted aside in the melee. In reading about life and culture, I often close the book, the paper, the magazine and say silently to myself: What difference does all this make? Persons are involved in trying to outdo others in something that is not important to them or God. Persons believe in and follow important human activity, not for general good, but to their own temporary satisfaction. Even that will be lost. Wise in some areas, we forget our stupidity in others. Steve Jobs, the genius in electronics, rejected the recommendation that a surgery could likely cure him of a cancer. He rejected it as invasive of his person. No one had the right to take charge of his body. Finally on argument from his longsuffering wife and specialists he agreed to the procedure, but it was too late. He then regretted his earlier decision that likely would have made a difference. There are several issues here that will be addressed in other pages, but one is that humility is a major matter in the beliefs and conducts of our lives. The pride of self may kill, humility may bring peace. This will more likely occur when we are no longer our own selfish gods, but God’s children. Hidden somewhere in these mysteries is the principle that we need each other. It is a major biblical theme. God admitted that Adam needed Eve. The need for family has continued ever since, only to be sabotaged by some family members. I have seen prodigal fathers and mothers, aunts and uncles. It is interesting that the first violation of habits for the good of health, conscience and achievement are often given to the young by a family member. Our best person is wrapped in relationships. In this context one seeks friendships, relates to a cadre of persons contributing to the maturing context of life. Jesus did it with disciples, and uses it with us. The whole context relates to a major reason for the establishment of the church in social society. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020