Of Grit and Greens - PART 1

"To see a world in a grain of sand or heaven in a wild flower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hands and infinity in an hour" -Auguries of Innocence, William Blake

I recently came across a journal entry I made several years ago. I was journaling in the living room of my cousin's home when I was disturbed by a loud noise.

"It turned out to be my cousin, whose basement bedroom is next the furnace room. The problem was that the furnace was squeaking incessantly, which is usually remedied by one or two sharp blows. This time, however, it didn't seem to do the trick. So, while venting her rage in barely repressed curses and Bruce Lee style attacks, the furnace continued to squeak. After giving up in a huff, slamming her door behind her, the furnace finally relented.

"As I observed this event (with more than a little amusement), something struck me. As a result of our mechanical approach to life, the very way we function is defined. We create institutions that run like machines, such as the furnace. And like machines, we use it outside of ourselves, dispassionate to its need or maintenance. Sure, if we have problems, we indentify the faulty part and replace it, perhaps even bring in a "repair man".

"More often than not, however, we simply give it a good whack on the side until it stops squeaking. And being that it is just a machine, what does it matter?"

From there, I begin to look at society- our schools, churches, organizations- wondering what it would be like if we approached that more organically. This idea has continue to foment in my mind and heart over these past years. I have even begun to fine others with the same ideas, emerging in quantum theory, theology, organizational development, education. I believe that this is far more than an ideological abstraction, but a key element to a better future in every way.

So shaped by the Industrial Revolution that gave us our current state of being and understand, we conceive of life on every level as a machine, a sum of parts that function in clearly identifiable and defined roles. Education is shaped by the assembly line of standardization, efficiency and productivity. Theology and philosophy become systematic equations, with everything in its place. Science continues its journey to define the world by breaking it down to it s smallest components, the micro-parts that make this giant machine.

Ironically, it is science, the champion of this flawed worldview, that is beginning to see the fatal flaw in this way of seeing the world. Quantum physicists are begin to realize the world is not simply the sum total of its smallest parts, but that in fact by breaking things down, something greater is lost, that not only are there no define "small parts", but rather that things on all levels exist and are defined by the complex place in the whole.

While this line of think could become a book (it is already too large for the average Blog), give it some thought. In a future Blog, I will explore an alternative to this mechanistic monster of ours.

To explore this idea more, read the book "Presence" or check out "Web Of Life"