(Jordan Eve Morrall returns today with a combination of insight and perhaps even advice–The Eds.)
Everyone is living life for the first time. I’ve written about it. I truly believe that, throughout their entire lives, people have no idea what they are doing. While they may have goals and feign being put together, the majority base their entire lives around social norms with no thought of individuality. Yet, we let our fear of judgement from these same people hold us back.
Now, here’s another thought: in relation to the age of the earth and all the centuries of civilization that has come before, everyone is–essentially–a child.
The idea is twofold.
First: why should we model our lives after other children who are still learning how to live contentedly and will still be figuring it out, even when they come to die? Just do your own thing. (This concept ties in with everyone living their lives for the first time and has already been covered.)
Second: why shouldn’t we feel compassion for these people, these children, in their confusion and naivety? They–like us–are lost in a world they will never understand. It’s a scary life with so many challenges, choices, and changes. We must try to be empathetic towards everyone around us, everyone in the whole world. How could you hate anyone who is wandering, lost and alone? By default, if someone is rude to you, they themselves are hurt or scared. If someone is lazy and unhelpful, they are overwhelmed by the demands placed on them; they don’t feel they are capable. They are children.
Scenario: a 40-year-old man insults you. So what? He is a literal child. Compared to the length of time people have been being born, going to war, inventing all manner of things, and dying, he is an infant who knows nothing. You can’t take his words personally or as truth.
We must love one another and work together. We must encourage one another and never lash out. If a child does something wrong, yelling never does any good. Gentle guidance does.
We are all children looking for a loving friend. Please be that friend.
Jordan Eve Morrall
Saragun Springs 
Jordan’s are prescient words, words to live by perhaps. In my experience, even the most well-meaning children are sometimes beseeching us for a cuff to the side of the head and the most generous thing we can do is provide them what they ask. But I’m only being fatuous–I think. Very pretty sentiments, Jordan, and I feel better for having read them. May they rub off on me and many others.
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Welcome back Jordan Eve
It is a shame that cynicism must be fought against–but it exists due to due cause. Still, you make points that are both positive and well thought out–not at all Polyanna–which is the curse of the cynic –We tend to view everything darkly, which is neither fair nor accurate.
Well done!
Leila
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The “everyone is living for the first time” observation has genuine resonance. Something we should all be mindful of.
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Jordan Eve
My three favorite people in all of human history are Jesus, his mother Mary, and his best friend, Mary Magdalen. I think of them as HUMANS, not as otherworldly entities, although they all had otherworldly aspects to them, too (like many other people do as well).
I judge everything by what I think they would’ve thought of it. At the same time, I do not like people who parade their religion around too much, either. And I definitely don’t like those who think the “holy ones” are supposed to do it all while the rest of us sit back on the couch with some popcorn and watch the show.
I like the thought processes of the so-called Christian Existentialists (starting with the philosopher Kierkegaard, one of my favorite writers), who all individually in their own way said that religion is first and foremost a private thing that should also manifest in how you walk through this world.
Saint Francis said: “Preach the Gospel. And when necessary, use words.” I love how many of his best friends were animals!
Your work has that sense of trying to “preach the Gospel” without being too preachy about it. You try to send the right message without judging, hectoring, or putting down your audience.
The word essay means “to attempt.” All good essays fail in their mission, but they all try to do something extraordinary, too. That sense of taking the risk, trying to do something that will inevitably fail, is what gives good writing its edge and its importance.
Thanks for sending your things to the Springs! Keep writing!
Dale
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Jordan Eve,
Like David Henson, I found your opening sentence (‘Everyone is living their life for the first time’) very engaging. And indeed, in that sense we are all children. And we would all benefit from the help of others and should offer help in return. I imagine Tolstoy would’ve agreed with you.
But in a short essay there is little room for limitations and for hard cases. For example, while it’s quite amusing to think of, say, Vladimir Putin as a naughty child, it’s not a good idea to help him. And we have to consider that over the many generations there were many previous children who lived valuable lives and left us important lessons. I’m not knocking ‘doing your own thing’, but we should also devote time to learn from the wisdom of those children who came before us. Modern medicine is perhaps a good example: the surgeon who took out my diseased appendix was certainly helping me, but I was glad that he’d already learned his surgical technique from others who’d gone before him.
Thank you for your thoughtful essay. bw mick
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