“Everybody’s Doing
It”
As a youth, whenever I used that argument with my father, he
would break out into a boisterous song.
“Everybody’s doing
it, doing it, doing it
Picking their nose
and chewing it, chewing it, chewing it”
It was so aggravating that he couldn’t, or wouldn’t,
understand the importance of being a part of the crowd.
I’ve since learned to appreciate his wisdom. Maybe not the song so much, but the concept
that the masses don’t always make the wisest choice.
With that consideration, I’ve begun a journey which involves
walking to the beat of my own drum and down a path that society might not
promote or condone.
Why have a chosen a
different path? I guess you might say my
eyes have been opened and my appetite awakened.
Call me ‘Ratatouille’ if you will.
It is difficult to be content
eating sewage when I know there is a banquet of delicious gourmet foods available
instead.
It reminds me of the following account. If memory serves me correctly, Socrates was
having a debate with Thrasymachus about the benefits of being just.
Thrasymachus gave case after case of convincing evidence how the
ultimate objective, which is happiness, can only be guaranteed by being unjust.
In each argument,
Socrates conceded that he was correct.
But even with all this evidence, Socrates was unmoved in his opinion. He then began to point out that all of Thrasymachus
objectives - (more toys, on top, carefree & fun, a rush, etc.) defined happiness at one level and that level provided temporary pleasure. But there is a higher
level of happiness (inner peace, genuine joy, fulfillment of purpose, service
to mankind, etc.) that can be obtained only by being just. A just person may not have all the benefits
of the lower level but the higher level of happiness far outweighs the
cost.
And so this journey has made me somewhat of a fringee –
different than the masses, on the outskirts of mainstream. Not necessarily a social nerd, a computer
geek, or trekky (ok, I may be a trekky to small degree). Not a ‘stuck in an era’, an animal rights
activist, a rebel without a cause and ‘I make my own rules’ type of fringee.
I’d probably call
myself a ‘seeker’ type of fringee.
Seeking truth. Seeking to
preserve truth and freedom and correct principles in a world that is rejecting
them. Seeking to devote and consecrate
myself to my maker. Seeking to be a
force for good.
So here is where my frustration comes in. The more enlightenment, empowerment, and
direction I’m given, the more I want to invite others to embark on the same
journey. But because I’m a Fringee, my
message is ignored. . . belittled. . .
disregarded. The closer I come to
feeling genuine love and concern for my friends who have chosen a different
path, the less effective I am at reaching or influencing them.
For example. I keep
having this recurring day and night mare.
I visualize myself standing at the bar of God on judgment day and next
to me are my dear friends, associates, and even potential associates (if I
would have been friendly enough to open my mouth) who did not receive a pass. They look at me with pleading eyes, and ask
why I didn’t share what I had with them while there was still time?
My heartstrings are torn and my eyes well up with tears even
now simply thinking about it. As I
consider the billions upon billions of souls who had successfully become
victors of their first estate but have, or are, blowing their second estate, I
feel overwhelmed with grief, heartache, and compassion.
But what can I do.
I’m considered a fringee. Every time
I attempt to invite, my effectiveness is a nill because what I have to offer is
not considered mainstream. I’m viewed as
“eccentric” and overly “passionate” and have an “over the top” position. My message, my love and concern, my desire
for their obtaining genuine happiness seems to never come to fruition. And that frustrates me deeply.
I suppose I could
focus on the positive – and only interact with those who have already chosen to
take the same journey as myself. Have my
little clique of fringees who speak the same language and leave the rest of the
world to fend for themselves while they enjoy picking their noses and chewing
it. But I find no contentment there
either.
So I’m stuck . . . . . . . a frustrated fringee. Still engaged in the noble cause of what I
seek, but feeling the pains of rejection.
