Autonomy and Life

Though the proverbial “the world is going to hell in a handbasket,” rings true often enough, we can’t sidle over to the dark side or wring our hands. We have work to do: a planet to (re)green; relationships to manage and grow; social expectations to satisfy; care, compassion and concern to give; hurdles to jump; disappointments to tolerate; and hope to herald. Each of these requires substance—of heart and soul and mind. So, we put our attention on this substance, its wisdom, its practices and its restraints. (more…)

We are typically endowed with enough, if not more than enough, willfulness. Humans are born to this trait, an ancient, reflexive, hard-wired response to being in the world. It’s undisciplined and without conscience. Its primitive ruthlessness drives those who would use any means possible, i.e., corruption, exploitation, cruelty, to get what they’re (also) driven to want. We see its evidence everywhere. It’s a blight upon our peopled world and an insoluble stain upon our planet.

The rest of us, educated to a conscience and a persistent fascination with the possibility of living a purposed life, want to stamp our will or make our mark upon the world, too. Despite all the privileges to which we are heir, we are well aware of how much of life is muddled, unpredictable, threatening, confrontational and for one reason or another, often just disappointing. (more…)