156 Nov. 29
I write this in reaction to my double book launch of yesterday, and the many who weren’t there to celebrate with us. J.D., I hope you don’t mind me using you as a way to focus on a reality that most of our culture share: the segmentation of our lives. We are taught to assume that our life is separated into various, barely touching areas: spiritual, financial, vocation, family, political, etc., etc. A false assumption, of course. Yet one that rules our lives.
J.D. had read my two newest books and was/is very excited about them, offering suggestions as to how to proceed in my ‘getting the word out’, so-to-speak. But did he come to the book launch? No. Why not? I’m guessing that he didn’t think he would feel comfortable, being among ‘those religious’ folks. He, being an atheist, didn’t want to be associated, perhaps, by ‘religious’ people, and knew that spiritual matters were not to be discussed in public, like most other matters. J.D. is a trained academic, after all. These matters are to be limited to experts, the recognized philosophers or theologians of the past or present. You keep them separate and private. J.D. doesn’t believe in most of that ‘churchy’ stuff.
J.D. is right. We usually do keep things separate. We’ve been taught that politics and religion don’t mix. And to never talk about them. Therefore, we often end up fighting about them and not learning anything from each other. The most important areas in our lives remain stagnant and small, unconnected to the other areas of our lives.
The old hippy saying comes to mind: ‘Get your act together, man! Get it together!
The clear truth is, that if more of us start to ‘get it together, we’ll soon self-destruct. The segmentation of our lives, of not spending, doing and living as we supposedly ‘believe’, is killing us. The assumption that economists, ecologists, philosophers, lovers, grandchildren and grandparents, no matter their education or background, are separate, can no longer be accepted. J.D., I was hurt and disappointed at your non-attendance. Your voice and presence would have added a lot. We were all lessened by what you didn’t ask or share.
Why are most of us so afraid of anything that might be deemed ‘spiritual’? We’ve learned this, sadly, by what we’ve experienced. I can only hope that more of us might become wise enough to take the risk and share with more people about more things. Staying away from events where questions of life are shared is stupid. Especially when there’s good food involved.
To all those who came, a heart-felt thank you. To the others, I hope for many more chances to talk and share, maybe tomorrow.
Anthony, just trying to keep it together, myself.
