Our Future?

What lies ahead for you is not determined. Nor is it for me. Or any of us.

No, the future will unfold as long as there are tomorrows. What we do with it is another question. Open to wonder, isn’t it? What will tomorrow be like, what will my life become, how will we live with one another, and so many other questions to ponder.

It is fun to do so. Imagine what could be. Then imagine my own life and its borders and reaches. What will I touch? What will I feel? What kind of person will I be then? Will I know the influences that will shape me? Will I be in control of that? or any part of it?

Most likely not. We respond to something. It is almost automatic, without thinking. And the cause of the reaction is not in our control at all, either. It happens. IT. Whatever it is. And we roll with the pulses. If we are prepared for the event – the ‘it’ – then we might react with more finesse and polish; but most likely we are not prepared.

The future is like that. So are our reactions to the future. Sort of like ‘que sera, sera’, whatever will be will be. The Doris Day song of the 1950’s. A world then in stark change from World War II to whatever we all hoped it would become. The Cold War, though, took the fun out of it all. First the hope, then the fear, then the work to protect and defend, and then the despair, and then the wonder. Only wonder, not knowing.

We fear the unknown. We tie the bungee cord to our legs and leap into space, not knowing where we will land, crash, or bounce. Or even the trajectory – only that it is down, down, down. Reassurance when the cord reaches its extension and pulls the body upward, clear of the ground and a nasty landing. The cord worked. Someone’s calculations worked. The jumper is alive and exhilarated by the experience.

That alone informs us, and the jumper. But does it do more than just that? Does it teach us anything?

Perhaps we learn that a risk taken leads us over the edge of the known and survival and doubt provides a lesson only we who experience it can perceive. Just like so many other instances in life. Do something different and experience the difference. Like skiing for the first time, or zip lining through an equatorial jungle, or eating a strange cuisine. What awaits our action? Our daring?

Seems to me much of this is informational but not instructional. What might be worth much more of our time and effort is imagining what we want from life. Not the riches or the experiences, but the characteristics of a life well lived. What is that like? How is it defined? What clear objectives come into focus. Do we do this imagining often enough and with discipline that helps us discern what is important in life?

The world is a noisy place. Filled with visions, colors, happenings, and movement. Like the turning on of a well connected TV with 400 cable channels. Each channel switch comes with images, colors, motion and sound. Dizzying arrays of all of that – and more. Noise. Confusion. Distraction.

Yes we experience all of that, but it keeps us from concluding anything. Well, for me, I turn it off or hit the mute button! I can’t stand the overload of noise – both visual and audio. Too much stimulation; not enough discernment. What it means should be important. It isn’t, because it is too much. Scattered attention. No focus.

Like drugs, I guess. An addict takes chemicals into the body to detach from reality and escape from the noise. No conclusions there, either; unless, of course, too much is indulged and death results. Maybe not a conclusion, just an end. An untimely dead end at that.

Rather, I think we should think about what we want in our future that is of value. Not just for you, or me, but all of us. The common good of all of us on the planet. What would be of value to us all. How much of this thinking is common to us? How much agreement can we reach?

Here’s a start on some objectives: 

1. Clean abundant supply of water
2. Adequate supply of healthy food and diet
3. Shelter from weather, and natural elements of the outdoors
4. Clothing to cover and protect our body
5. Access to medical care to maintain health
6. Safety from immediate threats
7. Order to keep peace and cooperation among many
8. Freedom to pursue happiness as defined by each person 

Each objective has its role. Each is necessary for the person and the society. Each builds on a common platform that sustains an orderly life yet allows freedom to reach into the future. These are the building blocks of freedom and happiness. Each person will benefit from these. Together we can make it all happen.

As social complexity develops – as certainly it will, and has – the objectives may be altered or added to. But I bet most of those objectives will conform to the 8 listed.

At any rate, these are my objectives; perhaps yours are different? Give it a try and let’s compare. Nice beginning! And so easy to do. Why can’t this work for everyone?

March 3, 2017