You've Got To Believe It's Getting Better

"It seems like the chaos of this world is accelerating, but so is the beauty in the consciousness of more and more people"

~ Anthony Kiedis ~

"When I was a kid I drew like Michelangelo. It took me years to learn to draw like a kid."

~ Pablo Picasso ~

"When I was a child, I spoke like a child, thought like a child, and reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up my childish ways."

~ 1 Corinthians 13:11, International Standard Version ~

Take a good hard look at the quotes above.  The first two are inspiring for me.   The last one, well........for me that's exactly the problem these days.  We're resisting our ability to live in childlike wonder.  We all have an inner child that needs, not stuffed, but nurtured.  It's who we are at our very core.  Stick with me here.

The whole Chik-Fil-A-who's right or wrong-hate-love-chickengate thing over the last couple weeks has forced me to reexamine my entire belief system.  I think it did that for a lot of people.  I can tell you, without hesitation, my beliefs in the goodness of humanity, and the potential for an enlightened and peaceful future (someday) are firmly in tact.  Apparently cognitive dissonance works both ways.  I offered a challenge some time ago to a group of people who follow a particular doctrine, to present me with historical evidence of the validity of their deity's existence, using a source OTHER than their religious reference OR a source that doesn't use said reference as THEIR primary source, and I would rethink my position.  Not one met the challenge.  In fact, I don't think anyone tried.  But I digress.

In the midst of all this surface tension there lurks an undercurrent that I keep hearing over and over.  Like my little 138 number, I seem to be seeing it everywhere lately.  It takes on a couple different forms but goes something like this.  "What are we teaching our children?"  Or  "Our world/country/county/city/whatever is in so much trouble!"  Or still, "We need to get back to biblical values."   Add quotes to any string of words you like.  The bottom line is, there are those among us who believe our population is destined for destruction because we aren't following a Christian/Muslim/Hindu/Buddhist/Whatever doctrine.  "God" is displeased and he's going to bring down the thunder.  I just can't seem to share that perspective and I'll tell you why.

Many people I talk to today think our children are soft, spoiled and unaware.  They're obviously talking to a different group of children than I.  Sure, kids today probably spend more time indoors playing Nintendo or watching TV.  And we've all assumed that's a bad thing.  Granted, it's a DIFFERENT thing than when I was a kid, but who's to say it's bad.  It's how things are.  It's where technology and evolution is leading us.  And here's where the naysayers are digging in.  I'm actually encouraged by the generation of kids we're raising.  It's MY generation that seems to be making a mess of things.

Almost without exception, the kids I have the pleasure of being around today are more globally and ecologically aware.  They get the connection.  They're beginning to realize that borders are ridiculous and survival of the species means a spirit of cooperation.  They're finally beginning to grasp the notion that war is ludicrous at ANY level.  (Yeah, we didn't even come CLOSE to getting that one.)  They ask tough questions and are no longer swallowing ancient lore of any kind without some type of evidence.  Largely gone are the days of "I believe this or that because my parents said so."  Kids want evidence now.  Blind faith is disappearing.  And.  THAT.  Is.  A.  Good.  Thing!!!!  There's an increased love of The Arts, and Science is emerging as a place to explore with that childlike wonder we talked about and not just some class that requires a grade.  And these kids are going to bear children that carry on that legacy.  These kids are getting it.

So you want to know how I know?  I know because the establishment that has kept us under the tyranny of dogma is crying out with a gnashing of teeth.  The thin vail of religion is being questioned.  And that may be nothing new, but the days of killing people for their questions are mostly gone and the curtain is being opened one generation at time.  And THAT, my friends, is called a "threat" to those that live behind that curtain.  I know.  I used to live there, too.  Can you begin to imagine the economic landslide that will take place when the curtain finally falls?  Religion is a multi-billion dollar industry.  Collapse the foundation and you may very well collapse the whole thing.  Many kids today understand that may be exactly what needs to happen.  Our kids may be "spoiled", but they certainly aren't arrogant or naive.  They see the fragility of our existence.

I guess all I'm trying to say is this.  Fear not.  Everything is happening exactly the way it's supposed to.  Whether you're Christian or Atheist, we can probably agree on that.  Every battle line that gets drawn is forcing people from both sides to step towards it, baby-step at a time, whether they realize it or even want to.  Eventually............and it may be many generations from now, an entire planet (or maybe even universe) of people will emerge that stand at the line shaking hands.  We can't be on opposite ends forever.  It just doesn't work that way.  And although it may seem like such a long time from now, man hasn't been around that long.  (Unless you believe that whole "the earth is only 10,000 years old" thing.  In which case, don't even get me started).  We'll figure it out.

Believe what you want to believe.  Whatever it is, it's vital to getting us where we need to be as a species.  We actually need opposing views to find SOLID ground.  Have faith.  Believe.  We're all basically good people.   And I think our children are the first in a long line that are getting it worked out.  I only wish I was going to be here to see it.  But in the meantime.........

Live in childlike wonder.  It's who you are.

Namaste