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There seems to be a theme cropping up again and again around me lately. In the books I read, the music I listen to, whatever.
"[Humans] need to believe in things that aren't true. How else can they BECOME?" -- Sir Terry Pratchett, "Hogfather"
"From the paintings of a child to the works of God above, every act of creation is an act of love." -- Joe Bethancourt, "Acts of Creation" [Edit: I have since been informed that the original author of the lyrics is Catherine Faber]
We as humans have a greater ability to create a greater range of things than any other creature we've ever observed -- and likewise a greater capacity to destroy, but that's a topic for another day.
Tomorrow is the Winter Solstice -- the shortest day and the darkest night of the year. After tomorrow, they days slowly get longer over the next six months. The amount of physical daylight increases, and I hope for you that other forms of Light will increase as well.
What shall we do with this increase?
You may say that Physics tells us that neither matter nor energy can ever truly be created or destroyed, only converted from one form to another. Fair enough. What, then, shall we convert? And what shall we convert it into?
Put another way... what will you create/convert in the days to come?
Perhaps you are like one or more of my friends:
* Matt, who creates delightful artwork -- and well beyond the "paintings of a child" stage mentioned by Mr. Bethancourt/Ms. Faber, too!
* Sharon, who goes out to aid our four-footed or winged cousins who've become injured.
* Caitlyn, who helps make injured bodies become sound again -- to re-create that physical integrity that has become compromised.
* Dvorah, who helps mend people's psyches, their spirits, to get back to where and who they were before their trauma, to create that space and those conditions where such growth (and re-growth) can occur.
Or perhaps you are like one of my many friends who create stories, both the ones you see on the shelves of libraries and bookstores, and the ones that are just as carefully crafted (sometimes more so) but are only seen in various online communities. Creating entire worlds or even universes, sometimes on their own and sometimes as an outgrowth of already-existing works.
Whatever the form your creative aspect may take, I salute you and hope that you will look at year's end with pleasure and pride on what you have wrought.
In a few days, many of us will set goals, expectations, "resolutions" for the new year. Many of these will involve some form of creative effort -- especially creating an improved version of ourselves.
To me, this is one of the highest aims of creation -- to make ourselves better than we were. Physically, mentally, emotionally, even spiritually.
Above that is to make things better for others of our "tribe," our friends, our family, our neighbors.
And highest of all (to me) would be to make things better for our entire world, our entire race and the others who share this bit of rock and water and air with us.
It's going to be awfully dark and cold tomorrow night. What do you say we all go and create a bit of warmth and Light?
"[Humans] need to believe in things that aren't true. How else can they BECOME?" -- Sir Terry Pratchett, "Hogfather"
"From the paintings of a child to the works of God above, every act of creation is an act of love." -- Joe Bethancourt, "Acts of Creation" [Edit: I have since been informed that the original author of the lyrics is Catherine Faber]
We as humans have a greater ability to create a greater range of things than any other creature we've ever observed -- and likewise a greater capacity to destroy, but that's a topic for another day.
Tomorrow is the Winter Solstice -- the shortest day and the darkest night of the year. After tomorrow, they days slowly get longer over the next six months. The amount of physical daylight increases, and I hope for you that other forms of Light will increase as well.
What shall we do with this increase?
You may say that Physics tells us that neither matter nor energy can ever truly be created or destroyed, only converted from one form to another. Fair enough. What, then, shall we convert? And what shall we convert it into?
Put another way... what will you create/convert in the days to come?
Perhaps you are like one or more of my friends:
* Matt, who creates delightful artwork -- and well beyond the "paintings of a child" stage mentioned by Mr. Bethancourt/Ms. Faber, too!
* Sharon, who goes out to aid our four-footed or winged cousins who've become injured.
* Caitlyn, who helps make injured bodies become sound again -- to re-create that physical integrity that has become compromised.
* Dvorah, who helps mend people's psyches, their spirits, to get back to where and who they were before their trauma, to create that space and those conditions where such growth (and re-growth) can occur.
Or perhaps you are like one of my many friends who create stories, both the ones you see on the shelves of libraries and bookstores, and the ones that are just as carefully crafted (sometimes more so) but are only seen in various online communities. Creating entire worlds or even universes, sometimes on their own and sometimes as an outgrowth of already-existing works.
Whatever the form your creative aspect may take, I salute you and hope that you will look at year's end with pleasure and pride on what you have wrought.
In a few days, many of us will set goals, expectations, "resolutions" for the new year. Many of these will involve some form of creative effort -- especially creating an improved version of ourselves.
To me, this is one of the highest aims of creation -- to make ourselves better than we were. Physically, mentally, emotionally, even spiritually.
Above that is to make things better for others of our "tribe," our friends, our family, our neighbors.
And highest of all (to me) would be to make things better for our entire world, our entire race and the others who share this bit of rock and water and air with us.
It's going to be awfully dark and cold tomorrow night. What do you say we all go and create a bit of warmth and Light?
