Finding Focus Amidst Chaos
One of the most difficult things every human being living in a modern culture is confronted with, is how to remain focused in spite of the whirlwind of influences grasping for our attention at any given moment. We are constantly bombarded with messages of conflicting importance from every direction — politics, the arts, the news, the church, our wallets, our jobs, our spouses, our children and wards. Each of these have an important role in the outcome and quality of our lives, yet which of them at any given moment is more critical than the others?
We work diligently to care for and provide for our children and wards, and struggle with our spouses to ensure a cohesive direction under the burden of responsibilities. When we fail, we seek solace, and, when we succeed, we are thankful, but we always are mindful of the accelerating deterioration of cultural and social structure pioneered by discordants and trumpeted by our technological echo boxes — constantly reminding us that we are empowered to change things, if we would only stand up and do so.
Of course, the method beyond standing up and doing so is hardly mentioned. Perhaps because it is itself just another ruse toward distraction, perhaps it isn’t true, or perhaps because it is a far more arduous task with a small budget and big dreams. Regardless, the truth that change can happen is undeniable — change is occurring at a rapid pace, at any given time. However, the change we most often seek is internal, while we exert ourselves toward changing external things.
We strive to change our situations, our circumstances, our positions, our appearances — but, for all the changes we endeavor to manifest, the real dichotomy lies in our approach. In working to change outward things, we are doing little more than laboring to project our own desires on the world around us, in a subconscious effort to assist the world in changing us internally. Without a sense of satisfaction with self, we will forever be burdened with a desire to be involved in the change of things around us — inflicting our own wills on the defiant and unsuspecting.
Until we reach a place of solace internally, with a true and directed focus on who we are and what we do, this duality of purpose plagues us indefinitely, in an endless cycle of conflict and frustration. What stops this cycle is focus — finding purpose amidst the chaos. The purpose of who we are and why we do what we do is most often lost in the whirlwind. However, when we learn to love, the cycle stops and purpose becomes the truest and most sincere action. Rewarding instead of taxing. Noble instead of common.
Lack of love is at the root of our discontent. It’s what drives us to self-service, to greed, to glut, to pride. Without love — an honest and pure kind of love — we waste away. Yet, when we learn to love in its purest form, the veil is torn, and the contents of the Ark unleashed. Judgment is metred with grace. Wrongs are washed away. Tolerance meets its merit. The impossible becomes possible. Supply unfolds without limit. Chaos becomes clear.
The focus comes from clarity of vision, and clarity of vision comes from learning to love — not passion, not infatuation, not lust, not admiration, not desire… only love. The sense that we are one, even in our disparity. The sense that individual purpose is equal to the whole. The sense that “right here and right now” is perfect. To learn real love is to understand the peace that passes understanding — to find focus amidst chaos… and to share it with all who will listen.
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2009/04/17 02:05 -0700Z
I read your post with eagerness, all the more because you have not been writing here lately, & I’ve missed that. I like the way you have your finger on the pulse of modern culture, and I take pleasure in comparing your diagnosis (if that’s the right word) with my own. In that comparison, as you will expect, our differences become apparent, and what’s interesting, to me at least, is to try and see how we manage to diverge so much.
First I want to take issue on the use of a couple of words: “we” and “love”. I imagine I am one of your most enthusiastic readers, but I don’t fit into your “we”. You speak for your own self. In a sense of course, you speak to your own self, and when you do that, I have not right to object to your use of any words at all, because you know what you mean. Nevertheless, you do publish to the whole world and allow comments, and from past experience you enjoy dialogue, so I want to say that when you say “we” I have to substitute “I”, and then I can make sense of what you right, and have less to challenge; for you are entitled to your own analysis of yourself and the world.
Now when you use the word “love”, here on the open Internet, it’s important to remember that you are not in the pulpit preaching to the converted who have a New-Testament-tinged understanding of the word “love” - ie the Greek agape, translated sometimes as “charity” in the King James version (faith, hope and charity). Here on the internet, love is for sale. Love means everything to everybody. I know you’re aware of that, and that’s why you add “an honest and pure kind of love”: but that’s still not enough. I still don’t know what you mean. Is it a transitive or intransitive love? I mean, is it the love which has an object? “I love my wife, my children, my own wonderful self, my country, my house and garden …” or alternatively, just love? “When I love, the world sparkles, I feel whole, problems disappear. When I don’t love, I feel bad …” And then transitive love breaks down into active: “I love my dog” and passive: “My dog loves me”. As for intransitive love, I personally don’t think it ought to be called love, for a diffused love is merely the by-product of the underlying thing, wellbeing.
Sorry Tim, this is already too long. I’ll stop, but you have not heard the last from me. Thanks for posting this. You have given me much to think about.
2009/04/17 02:29 -0700Z
You identify your desire for change and imply it’s a solution to the “chaos”. But I see change as the problem: too much, too fast. Personally I have no desire for radical change. I don’t believe in progress, don’t wait anxiously for the world to become a better place. Why should anyone expect that? Study history.
If there is a problem, and many people say there is, I recommend one solution only: awareness.
2009/04/17 22:32 -0700Z
Perhaps you’re right, Vincent. There ought to be a separate word for love, in its intransitive form, just to separate it from the other myriad definitions of the word — much the same as “God.” Yet, when I try to think of another word, I face a challenge. Love truly is the best word, in the sense of wellbeing, and in that wellbeing, a desire to infect others with such. The word love has been hijacked and likely not by accident, but rather as a byproduct of the increasingly inoperable change effected by “modern culture.” As you mention, in this culture, “Love is for sale. Love means everything to everybody.” Though, awareness is critical in order to see through the “sales pitch,” and vocal and critical analysis is the the only remedy to salve the wounds of modern culture from simple existence, and pure love. So, in that aspect, you are right. When I say “we,” I am speaking to the world as much as I am teaching myself.
Thanks for taking the time to comment — it is much appreciated. I have been quite busy, which could be a good thing… yet, in my own personal whirlwind, I think often of scribing something meaningful here, rather than simply hacking up HTML, PHP, and graphics for spare change.
2009/04/18 03:19 -0700Z
Hope the spare change keeps coming in and saves you from busking or otherwise panhandling on the street.
I’ve written a more extended response to your post on my alternative blog here: http://quotidianstuff.blogspot.com/2009/04/golden-moment.html