I realized some time yesterday that every single person I know in the world is either frightened, frustrated, angry, or terrified. Honestly, I can’t think of anyone I know who isn’t troubled by the pandemic, or Trump, or the economy, or masks or shutdowns, or the news.
Things are getting awfully heavy out there. There are real issues, and they are important, but taking myself too seriously can also be fatal. I want to shake my friends and tell them to stay out of the apocalypse. We aren’t there yet.
Some of the e-mails I get are verging on the hysterical and suicidal. Hate and anger kills too. I can’t go there.
I am drowning in Apocalypse talk.
People on the one side believe the world as they know it will end if their candidate is not elected, people on the other insist our way of life will be destroyed of the other candidate wins.
I’m told there are people in the middle still, but I’m not sure I know any of them or where they are.
Perspective in very difficult to maintain in the age of Hyper-Politics and Hyper-Media. Hysterics seem to be taking over both.
Maria and I are both restless because we are basically social creatures (she more than me), but every time I meet with a friend or talk to one, I want to go and stick my head in the oven.
I’m having trouble finding anyone who is happy, and am surprised to sometimes feel like I’m the only one I know. That is profoundly shocking and unnerving to me.
I am happy, except when I fall off my new bike or try to ride it.
Something must be wrong with me. I am still crazy, but it a new way.
I feel like everyone I know is living on the edge of the Apocalypse.
This got me sniffing around about the idea of the Apocalypse. I see there are Apocalypses that would work for me, and I recommend them to you.
I always try to back away from the extreme ends of things, hysteria and rhetoric and frenzy is the language of our time. I’m looking elsewhere.
In certain sects of Christianity (Book of Revelation) the apocalypse” is depicted as the complete and final destruction of the world.
This is what many of my readers believe is coming depending on whether Trump or Biden wins the November election. Our country is divided on many things but united on one: whichever candidate winds, the other half believes the world will have ended.
And guess what? Both sides will be wrong.
I am happy to learn that here are brighter ways to look at the idea of an apocalypse.
My favorite is the Ancient Greek idea – apokalypsis – meaning a disclosure or revelation of great knowledge.
I love that. The mystic lives in me, I am always on the sniff for revelation.
Mystics believe the apocalypse will reveal something important that was hidden, like a vision of heavenly secrets that make sense of life. The Book of Revelation is believed to be referring to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in A.D. 70.
Most portrayals of the apocalypse in modern times usually suggest some form of an end time for humanity, or revelations into divine, heavenly and spiritual realms.
I’m going with a mix – The Greek idea of great revelations of knowledge and the spiritual idea of great revelations about the divine. I seek a spiritual life, and revelation is my fantasy.
Sometimes I flatter myself by thinking I am a creature of mini-revelations, the big one hasn’t come yet.
That sounds exciting to me, and not depressing. I stay from extremes, either on the left or the right, although people are always telling me who I am and what I am.
I don’t believe any of us – me, you, Trump, Biden – are big enough or important enough to trigger the Christian idea of the apocalypse as pending doom. The mystics always write we are just not as important as we think we are, even Presidents.
We are small, smaller than microbes in the scheme of things, we do not matter nearly as much as we think we do when we get angry or frightened. We are here and gone in a flash.
A priest once told me that I was a bug on the body of life (okay, he said ass). This is true. I am sometimes important to me, but rarely to anybody else.
I think one way or another the election will be a revelation. We will learn a lot about our country and where it is headed, and I suspect a lot of it will be good, some of it bad. Elections can never make everyone happy.
I just feel it is time for a change. And that big change is already here and more is coming. That is my revelation.
When people tell me they are worried about the future, I just tell them I live in the now, today, this moment. That’s what I know, that’s where I live. I stay out of the future. Nobody can predict it, and all through history, almost all of those who do are dead wrong.
I cherish those important words: I don’t know.
The future is mostly about things I do not know and cannot imagine. I never claim to know what it will bring. I just cannot imagine. The future is where a lot of fear lives, the past a lot of regret.
I am getting older and I am not doing the apocalypse thing, not in life, not in politics. I stay as close to the middle as I can get, listening here, listening there, curious, and open to the thoughts of other people.
Earlier today, I had a vision and this may be a personal part of the apocalypse for me. In my dream, I was all right. I was doing what I love, living my life as fully and meaningfully as I can.
Human beings, a wise man told me once, drown in their own piss and vomit, by which he meant they are drawn to fear and anger as bees to honey.
My angel told me to stay away from the doomsday idea of apocalypse, my angel told me. It will get you to nowhere but Hell.
I am okay.
If people stopped reading the news that constantly manipulates one’s thinking, and just looked at the real world that is unfolding before them, they would be able to handle challenges better, enjoy life and see the beauty of what a gift life is and not waste it on worry.
As humans, we think we can control the planet, politics, the weather, pandemics, etc. Most of the time we cannot. I have lost places and businesses over and over due to recessions and apocalyptic fires. I never give up on life. Life is not meant to be comfortable everyday. If you look back at native and pagan cultures, many were nomadic, they didn’t build permanent structures in areas where fires and floods could consume them, they practiced natural medicine and were stewards of the Earth. They did not “own” property, “own” nature. We have neglected and abandoned our ancient wisdom in favor of consumerism and materialism. Many think we can hold onto a certain way of life and just want to be comfortable in our bubbles where everyone agrees and wants the same thing. Is that truly what living is about, to live in a bubble to keep everything the same and under control. Or is there a bigger picture here.
When I am overwhelmed by what humans are doing, I always look to the animals. They are also challenged by climate change and the rapid destruction of their ecosystem. They don’t complain, get depressed, act like victims. The birds wake up and sing their songs every morning. The mountain lions raise their cubs. The bears fish and forage for berries. The squirrels tumble and play with each other. The animals and plants live life to the fullest and they continue living the circle of life each and every moment. Their world is a world of balance, not taking too much, and living wild, fully alive, grateful in the sacredness of being alive.
We need to get over ourselves. And stop taking, hoarding, and trying to control life. Living in the present brings peace and joy, and being of service and giving deepens it even more so.
Thank you and Maria for being a good example of what that means.
Hello John, Your writing today reminded me of my kid’s school prayer. I have it posted to our fridge because I find it a good reminder for myself. I thought I would share it. Take care, Rae
https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/prayers-and-devotions/prayers/prophets-of-a-future-not-our-own
We are in a 4th Turning. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strauss–Howe_generational_theory
Hey Jon,
I am at least one other person out there who is fairly happy! I can’t see the point of getting all bent out of shape and riled up at everything going on right now.
We order anything we need online and have it delivered. Our groceries are delivered. Our medications are delivered.
We have phone appointments with doctors as necessary.
I go for regular walks, clean the house, do the laundry.
I do our banking once a month in person at the bank, socially distancing and wearing a mask at the same time of course.
We eat out occasionally at our local restaurant a safe distance away from everyone on their patio. Of course, this won’t work in the winter, but I cook in between and order the occasional pizza, etc.
We are lucky: we are retired, don’t have to worry about kids or grandkids going back to school traveling on buses, etc. or job security.
We don’t have to go out to work, or anywhere else unless we want to.
We have a front porch where we can sit and watch the world go by, or chat with neighbors walking, jogging, riding by.
I have never read so many books as I am reading now…never “had time”! This is keeping me sane.
I rarely turn on the TV. If I do, it’s to check the weather forecast or I’ve recorded something I’d like to watch (especially British programs) and I am able to fast forward through all the other nonsense and advertising.
Our social “bubble” of friends is kind of burst right now because we haven’t been able to get together since last December. I’ve invited them all for this Christmas, but who knows if that will be possible. We talk on the phone and email each other.
Oh, yeah, and not to forget I follow your blogs daily!
It is very comforting to know that you and Maria are also pretty happy and dealing with life as it comes, and I enjoy your photos and reading all about your lives! Thanks for helping me be happy! 🙂
As you often say it’s the small moments of connecting that make the difference. I was at our local coop checking out and the clerk asked about the half and half I was buying – “Do you put it in your coffee?” “Yes but my partner loves the cream” I said. That led her to tell me about growing up in Iowa on a farm and loving all things dairy but especially cream in her coffee. And I saw the connection opening and told her that I lived in Iowa for 10 years and met the love of my life who was an Iowa boy and as I said, loves cream too. She suddenly had a sparkle in her eyes and said “Oh what a lovely story – that really made my day”
Well, Joe calms me, reminds me I can be content. Kamala makes me recall joy.