The resulting desensitization,
though maybe useful, produces a sad effect, because as we habituate and grow
blind to the world's novelties and awe-inspiring features, apathy and
detachment set in. Moreover, there's a positive feedback mechanism: As one
thing after another drops from our radars, life grows less inspiring, and we
see less reason to make efforts to know and care about the world around us. And
when we just don't care, then we're more likely to live in ways that threaten
and destroy Life on Earth -- which is the profoundly dangerous situation that
has developed now.
Several times in my life I've
drifted into the no-seeing mode myself. Sometimes it was because I was trying
too hard to achieve something -- maybe to succeed in a job or maintain a
relationship with a woman -- and sometimes it was because of my obsessive
personality, which can give me tunnel vision as I drive things into the ground,
if I don't watch. So far I've always been able to shake myself out of these
ruts. I'd consciously and ceremoniously take a few days of walking around
reexamining my priorities and reshuffling my strategies for life. Then I'd
forgive myself for having been so dumb and unfeeling, and make a new start.
Here's an important point: Each
time I've made a new start, nothing harmonized with and encouraged my rebirth
more than paying attention to Nature. When I paid attention, Nature was always
there advising me: Simplify; don't waste resources; take care of your body; keep
growing...
These profoundly important
teachings are best taught by Nature Herself. The process works like this: You
make yourself available, and then Nature takes over, first slowly healing, then
slowly pleasing, and finally slowly bringing you into new awarenesses and more
sophisticated manners of being. And that process is pleasurable, and makes you
happy.
*****
BARKLICE AND WORLDCOM
In the growing dimness I lay
watching my little herd of barklice while listening to All Things Considered on
National Public Radio. As they spoke of the financial collapse and corporate
corruption of WorldCom (based near Jackson
northeast of here) the barklice grazed modestly on my back window's field of
algae and fungus.
One way of thinking about life in
general, maybe the most fundamental way of all, is to note the level each
living thing occupies on life's Energy Pyramid.