Upkeep

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our Light, not our Darkness, that most frightens us.

- Marianne Williamson


I find much sense in this statement, especially in present day. The media has forced us closer to our dark selves than in any other time in American history. We are comfortable with the concept of evil. There's no shock, no dismay, no bile in the gut when we watch murder and pain and betrayal on TV. Catharsis doesn't exist because our emotional dam burst long ago, and whatever trickles out during a performance isn't worth mentioning.

Fyodor Dostoevsky, one of my favorite authors, wrote a novel entitled The Idiot. It's about a guy who is actually decent, and what happens when he encounters the universally hypocritical society around him. Most of the characters determine that he has slipped off the mental balance beam, based on his selfless actions. It's hilarious and incredibly depressing, all at the same time.

We can't handle true goodness anymore- it's an alien concept, like unadulterated evil used to be before it showed its face one too many times.Their must be a balance. When we have no relief with which to contrast evil deeds, we lose the ability to recognize it as evil. Instead, we only see varying shades of gray and fail to sound the alarm when true danger passes in our midst.

I am especially guilty of this. My guard has been systematically lowered over the years- my moral filter too old and torn to collect the new clumps which head my way.

In other words, I need a change.