Majestic Mountain Magic
If thou wilt be observant and vigilant, thou wilt see at every moment the response to thy action. Be observant if thou wouldst have a pure heart, for something is born to thee in consequence of every action. Rumi
As I sat with the muse earlier this morning, I was thinking about a question I’ve been holding for some time: what science are we to believe? There is after all enough conflicting scientific information, especially in the domain of health, to make one’s head spin and to foment individual and collective confusion.
Science isn’t my wheelhouse. Not even close. Looking at scientific data and reading articles replete with same is torture for me. Yet, I want to know and to understand alternatives so that I can make good choices. ‘Good choices’ being defines as choices that are right for me. I don’t subscribe to the notion that one size fits all. Not in terms of health, nutrition, or any set/subset of ideas and ideologies. What is best/right/etc. for me may not be the same for you in science, in health, and, yes even in politics.
To be clear, there are facts. Yes, there are observable results. From them conclusions are reached that are then labelled ‘the truth’. I’m old enough to remember that science was used to claim cigarette smoking was safe. Few would make that argument today.
All too often, it seems to me, that ‘truth’ has an agenda: to entice us to buy and consume, to convince us to go along with and accept conclusions to be part of the crowd. Something, be it a product or a candidate or an idea, is for sale. We are the target audience.
Frequently there are conflicting scientific facts, differing approaches and studies to the same question, and, sadly agendas that compete with one another. We hold warring views of what is in the common, public interest and how best to honor that.
Navigating this environment requires our vigilance: keen awareness of how we are being and what we are doing in the world. After all we are creating that world by our thoughts, our words, our deeds. The world, other people, nature, the planet herself are responding to us. We are responding (and reacting) to one another. Conflicts ‘out there’ reflect our inner conflicts.
The world as it is now will not hand us clear answers to the decisions and choices we will face in the days, weeks, months, and, possibly, years ahead. We will argue over ‘this’ and ‘that’/’us’ and ‘them’/’right’ and ‘wrong’ until we can embrace the pure-hearted truth that there is no ‘this’ and ‘that’. No ‘us’ or ‘them’. No ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. There is but one unified field of which we are all a part.
Navigating that road and making choices along the way demands our vigilance step by step, moment by moment, day by day. Navigating that road requires that we be clear about what we believe at the same time we are open and adaptable to other possibilities. Navigating that road requires both strength of our convictions and the nimbleness to adjust. Navigating that road invites us to know more deeply who we are and what our true purpose is at this moment in time on the planet.
Early Morning Moon in the Sangres