Rabbit, Rabbit!

At the beginning of each month legend has it that you are to speak the two words – rabbit, rabbit – to another person before any other words are exchanged. The other person is to do likewise. Good luck for each is supposed to follow.

Trouble is each is more than likely to have uttered other words first on that fresh day of the new month. Thus one can only wonder who precisely is to experience the good luck?

Well, let us not fret about such traditions. Seems to me we just need to be upfront and honest about whatever it is we are about and work hard and consistently pursue the dream, whatever it is.  The dream may be as expansive as ‘world peace’, or it may encompass a wish to successfully present a sales pitch you've been working on for weeks. It may simply be maintaining calm and serenity in face of towering odds to the contrary.

Our days in 2014 are complicated and absorbed with details. For self, of course; but also for loved ones and close friends. There are big issues and small, many are voluntary while others are imposed by higher authorities. The IRS comes to mind. So, too, the strictures of tradition, culture, family and good manners.

The pastor of our church Sunday past delivered a thoughtful sermon on being vulnerable. Placing oneself at risk of ridicule or external judgment usually is avoided by most of us. Vulnerability, however, is an edge of being that sharpens our wits. Feeling alive requires taking some risks.

As I filed out of church and greeted the pastor, I thanked her for a good and strong message. She countered with her observation that I was always willing to be vulnerable through my writing. She follows this blog from time to time, but also my columns and news articles in the local newspaper. She wondered at my volubility – the seeming pouring out of written material. She said she wished she could do that!

Some would call my nature far too chatty and wordy! Even I will admit that from time to time. But the more important element here, is the willingness to be out on the line where others can see you, know you and hear you. It takes some personal courage to do this. Sometimes it borders on foolishness, but whatever, taking the leap and putting your thoughts out on paper or the airwaves for others to digest is a gamble.

Plenty of observers would accuse such people as egotists. In their mind any airing of opinion or ideas means the writer thinks his ‘stuff’ is good enough to share.

I’d counter the opposite. Most people have ideas good enough to share, and when they do those ideas get tested and either improved and saved, or dashed to pieces and dumped on the trash heap. One experience is felt positively, the other can be felt heavily negative.

Such public airing of ideas is not for the weak of mind or spirit. It takes some nerve to do it. Once done, however, a dialog has a chance to start and then the rest is easy. Starters of this process must have a certain confidence to be at risk, but they are important to have around lest communication grind to a halt entirely.

Considered discussions are important to weed out weak ideas and find stronger ones. Public discussions test the temper of our times in larger cross sections of society. Organized events for mediated discussion on important issues are important. Far too few exist!  Media hubs are not discussion centers; they are well-designed stages upon which talking heads have their way with public communications. They do not engage or share your thoughts, however. And that is what is missing in today’s public life.

Perhaps a return to coffeehouses is needed. Or structured symposia by which important topics are dissected, discussed, explored and reformed for better understanding. Or maybe seminars would accomplish a similar end?

At any rate someone needs to open their mouth or their word processing software and take a chance at sharing important ideas. Not all of us can be first to utter rabbit, rabbit! But someone does need to make the effort to speak first. So the rest of us can hear, read, think and respond.

Together our society can think through our issues and come to healthy conclusions. It requires courage, some conviction, but more – an open and generous mind to consider the possibilities.

Perhaps our shared dreams can come to life!

Rabbit! Rabbit!

July 1, 2014