“A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will never sit.” – Elton Trueblood, 1951. Based on an ancient concept.
Those who began the construction of the great cathedrals knew they were likely to be dead by the time the project was completed. Tesla had visions of a world powered by electricity. Goddard and von Braun dreamed of man reaching the stars. Minds like these often have not lived to see their ideas come to fruition. Some had no inkling their contribution would benefit so many. Others just wanted to make their fortunes – like Ford, Edison, Carnegie, Rockefeller, and Vanderbilt – and in the process changed society.
It seems to me humans have mostly focused on the “here and now” – until that would no longer work. The fertile crescent is no more. Ruins in South America, India, and Southeast Asia are monuments to cultures long gone. Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome and many other civilizations at last fell, collapsing under the weight of systems that were mainly geared to creating wealth in the present using methods inherited from the past. Societies that may have been “future-oriented” early on nevertheless succumbed to their collective passion for individual wealth and power. Add to this the mythology of the “great man” whose self-interest is believed to be paramount. Pharos and Emperors had a habit of trying to erase the accomplishments of their predecessors, as if their present was all that mattered. If they thought of the future at all, it was usually in terms of their great legacy.
It has been said that Native Americans hoped to make a good life possible for seven generations. The past and the present were important, to be sure, but only to inform the choices that could make their great-great grandchildren’s lives worth living. Yet, we have a habit of disregarding the potential consequences of our present choices. I used to teach my critical thinking students to ask the simple question, “Then what?” One choice inevitably leads to another, until a society runs out of choices. The sacking of Rome comes to mind. There is only so much militarism, corruption, and wealth disparity a civilization can handle.
As I write this, humanity is faced with climate change, resource depletion, environmental pollution, natural disasters, the threat of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, and the ongoing problems of changing demographics and immigration. And it seems few persons in power want to consider the future. Further, it seems conspiracy-minded religious zealots are actively cheering for Armageddon, the collapse of civilization, and the imminent destruction of the Earth, so their “god” can swoop down and “save” us all from ourselves. When Christians say they want certain political figures to bring about the “end times” I find this hard to take. What are they playing at?
Jesus said, “the kingdom of God is within you.” And, speaking of the end of the world he said, “No one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.” From the wilderness, he cautioned us not to put the Lord God to the test. We choose to tread near the edge of collapse at our own risk. The more we allow “great men” to exploit the planet and its people, the closer we come to annihilating ourselves. Maybe it’s a better idea to take care of the planet we were given. Good caretakers at least try to make a place better than they found it.
I have no easy answer to our current condition. For two millennia, we have had the guidance of the man who died on the cross. He told us to love our enemies and to treat others the way we would want to be treated. Maybe we should stop allowing our “leaders” to serve themselves while lying to us about how that somehow benefits the rest of us. If we believe massive personal wealth, unbridled power, and military supremacy are the keys to the future, we are as mistaken as all the civilizations that went before us. Maybe we need to listen to the man who taught us about loving God and loving our neighbor as ourselves. God knows, for thousands of years we’ve tried everything else.
MurrayWorks 