in search of
The previous quotations were meant to build up to today's post, which is something that occurred recently to me while driving. I usually think up weird shit in the shower, like writing a letter to my parents and sister that reads,Dear family-I don't know what's so special about the shower, maybe it's my shampoo. (It's a clarifying formula)
I still love you, but I think we should see other families. It's not you, it's me. You'll always have a special place in my heart.
Sincerely,
-your son/brother
On the other hand, I tend to have deep thoughts (deepER anyway, it's all relative) in the car. For example, last week I was headed to dinner, by myself, at a little Spanish place in Bellaire when the thought of searching entered my head. Specifically, it occurred to me that there has traditionally been a certain nobility associated with those who search. Seekers of knowledge, wisdom, truth. Once upon a time, these were the philosophers and alchemists. Eventually they became scientists or poets and artists. On the whole, these people are still regarded highly (much higher than accountants, if you ask around) perhaps because they're in search of answers, rather than claiming to already know them. I just finished reading God is not Great, by Christopher Hitchens. I won't spoil the surprise ending, but I can tell you that he doesn't think much of people who claim to know the answers.
A day or so later, digging in my garden, I began to think about trees. Trees send out roots in search of water, soil, nutrients. They send up branches and unfurl leaves in search of sunlight. Trees don't know whether rocks abound or whether another tree's growth will outpace its own and keep it in perpetual shade. Trees do this knowing nothing of drought and jumberjacks. Remarkably, trees don't care.
Assuming reincarnation exists, in my next life I'd like to be a tree.
posted by tinyhands @ 11:59 PM
3 Comments:
You're on an interesting trail here, TH. 'Tis giving me pause. And then the ADD kicks in...
P.S. Love the DH Lawrence quote. Been there, done that. Took a long while to crawl out.
Funny you mention Hitchens. I like him in somewhat of an irrational way because I think maybe I disagree with him about 55% of the time. Or not really disagree. Disagree is too 8th grade debate a term. I think maybe he draws conclusions 55% of the time that I haven't reached or experienced yet. Doesn't explain it really, but it's the best I can do.
However, if I were to be perfectly honest, I think possibly I really really like Hitchens because he was the answer in a Trivial Pursuit question that I got legitimately correct because I knew who it was who made the actual quote. No one else knew and my academic cred was upped dramatically even though I didn't win. I'm lousy at the sport's category and the other categories too if I were to be perfectly honest.
The bible I think talks a lot about trees. Metaphorically of course. I have issues with trees and branches and roots and sun and sheep and shepherds and captains and ships and even first mates because my mother thought analogies containing them could apply to almost every real life situation. The facts of the matter were irrelevant as long as you could apply a good shepherd analogy. After that everything was supposed to makes sense.
Ummm, after reading Zelda's response I pretty much forgot what your post said and I'm not even sure I had an intelligent response. Sooo... hi!
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