Right with a capital R. Wrong with a capital W.
A part of me has always envied those who seem able to put most behavior into precise little boxes of right and wrong. Life seems very simple when one does that.
Although, I have some strong beliefs that all of us function better when we live in harmony with one another and with the universe(s), I am constantly exploring and questioning whether some behavior does or does not facilitate that goal. For example it seems to me that allowing some of the population to starve while others have more than they need does not facilitate living in harmony. I am well aware of those who argue that the “survival of the fittest” will help to keep the population growth in balance with other needs of the universe. Thus some argue that disease, natural disasters and having some people unable to care for themselves and their family is good in the long run. On the other hand our use of modern medicine, genetic engineering of crops, the use of air conditioning and heat and a host of other creations has done much to make it impossible for mother nature to maintain the same balance. Other factors also affect who lives and dies or who thrives and who just exists. Even the nature of wars and how efficiently we destroy people, homes and countries has greatly changed the balance.
Science has also challenged many religious rules or moral values. We now have the means for birth control, safe abortions, surrogate parenting and a host of other changes which allows humans to engage in behavior which is safe, non-destructive to others and fun. Some of reasons for religious rules regarding nutrition no longer apply. Yet, we avoid responsibility for plastic filled fish which may not be safe; not because God ordained, but because we value convenience over our connection and interdependence with all that exists. We build more lethal bombs and we ignore the science that tell us that the concept of free will is often a lie we tell ourselves to justify our mistreatment of each other and to avoid the fear that we may not be able to have a cogent or logical thought.
I don’t know what is eternally and always “right” or “correct”. I do believe that common sense dictate that I stay open to new information, new perspectives, and new ways of listening. I do know that science tells me that “all systems must balance.
I also “know” that as we introduce new changes to the universe all is changed in a positive or negative direction; that all one does or does not do affects the universe(s). We can attempt to put all into neat little boxes of good and bad, right and wrong, accurate and wrong but in the end the natural working of systems will determine the outcome.
A friend wrote to me this morning suggesting I did not understand why some behavior was just wrong; that stepping outside that box could get lonely. Indeed it could get lonely. Not stepping outside the box will also get lonely. When one is disconnected from sel,one is completely isolated and adrift.
Each of us has to decide for this moment what action to take and what actions to avoid. We can do this always knowing that our best for today may not be our best tomorrow, By opening the doors and windows of our boxes we allow for the possibility of new perspectives and information. It is not about being right or wrong. It is about making the most informed guesses today about how our actions or lack of actions are going to affect the universe(s).
Written August 1, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
Coachpickett.org
A part of me has always envied those who seem able to put most behavior into precise little boxes of right and wrong. Life seems very simple when one does that.
Although, I have some strong beliefs that all of us function better when we live in harmony with one another and with the universe(s), I am constantly exploring and questioning whether some behavior does or does not facilitate that goal. For example it seems to me that allowing some of the population to starve while others have more than they need does not facilitate living in harmony. I am well aware of those who argue that the “survival of the fittest” will help to keep the population growth in balance with other needs of the universe. Thus some argue that disease, natural disasters and having some people unable to care for themselves and their family is good in the long run. On the other hand our use of modern medicine, genetic engineering of crops, the use of air conditioning and heat and a host of other creations has done much to make it impossible for mother nature to maintain the same balance. Other factors also affect who lives and dies or who thrives and who just exists. Even the nature of wars and how efficiently we destroy people, homes and countries has greatly changed the balance.
Science has also challenged many religious rules or moral values. We now have the means for birth control, safe abortions, surrogate parenting and a host of other changes which allows humans to engage in behavior which is safe, non-destructive to others and fun. Some of reasons for religious rules regarding nutrition no longer apply. Yet, we avoid responsibility for plastic filled fish which may not be safe; not because God ordained, but because we value convenience over our connection and interdependence with all that exists. We build more lethal bombs and we ignore the science that tell us that the concept of free will is often a lie we tell ourselves to justify our mistreatment of each other and to avoid the fear that we may not be able to have a cogent or logical thought.
I don’t know what is eternally and always “right” or “correct”. I do believe that common sense dictate that I stay open to new information, new perspectives, and new ways of listening. I do know that science tells me that “all systems must balance.
I also “know” that as we introduce new changes to the universe all is changed in a positive or negative direction; that all one does or does not do affects the universe(s). We can attempt to put all into neat little boxes of good and bad, right and wrong, accurate and wrong but in the end the natural working of systems will determine the outcome.
A friend wrote to me this morning suggesting I did not understand why some behavior was just wrong; that stepping outside that box could get lonely. Indeed it could get lonely. Not stepping outside the box will also get lonely. When one is disconnected from sel,one is completely isolated and adrift.
Each of us has to decide for this moment what action to take and what actions to avoid. We can do this always knowing that our best for today may not be our best tomorrow, By opening the doors and windows of our boxes we allow for the possibility of new perspectives and information. It is not about being right or wrong. It is about making the most informed guesses today about how our actions or lack of actions are going to affect the universe(s).
Written August 1, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
Coachpickett.org
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