I seem to be surrounded by people living productive lives with warm and loving families. They really ARE thriving, although few are "ambitious" or striving. They "struggle" with minor ailments, chores, and even relationships, schedules, and occasional death. But the natives are remarkably happy. These are cheerful and helpful people. They are prepared for their lives.
Still, there is that low-level depression, some of them, only some, seem to suffer. And they do not seem to know exactly Why. In an entertainment age, they seem a bit bored. Is there almost a "waste" of Freedom here? People have it "for granted", and do not feel engaged in the urgency of its preservation?
Seeing sadness fills me with empathy and great concern. I get edgy. When I see suffering it makes me really really edgy. Every suffering person is a canary in the mine. This is Our Mine.
Fortunately, my wife and most of our family friends and neighbors do not seem to mind having an "edgy" guy in town. I am just grateful that the Inquisition and Party Members have calmed down and I do not have to fend off packs of Red Guards, wolves, lynch-parties or witch-burning villagers. Real grateful.
PARABLE. WHAT KIND OF PEOPLE LIVE HERE? Reminds me of the Yiddish folk tale...
ReplyDeleteAn old man sat at the gate of the village. when travelers approached, they often asked, "What kind of people live here?"
And the old man would answer, "Well, what kind of people lived where you came from?"
If the travelers answered "Only bad people live where we come from," then the old man would reply, "Continue on, for you will find only bade people here." But if the travelers answered, "Only good people lived in the place we came from", then the old many would tell them "Enter this place, for here too, you will find only good people."