| | Not long ago someone I've known for about twenty years stopped by for a visit. He'd moved to Nebraska so I'd lost track of him. I've never been to Nebraska. Don't know how I missed it, but I've never been there. Anyway, he said I was passionate. I said, Really? Do you think so? There was no doubt in his mind. Never having thought of myself as passionate I was surprised. But I suppose he's right. About some things I am. I used to make my guitar teacher cry when I talked about music. No, you dork, he wasn't crying because he couldn't escape. He was crying because I think music is beautiful and I was eloquent when discussing it. That was passion. I won't paint unless I'm passionate about the subject matter. The thing about me is the contrast. As recreator said in a comment, James you're so minimalist you're almost lying down (?? does that work). I like being able to choose about what I express passion. Choice is something people generally think they have and don't. As I gain more I appreciate how little I've had my whole life. No, I'm not talking about being a victim. I'm talking about not being able to make choices because I wasn't present in my life.Most folks are passionate but they have little choice concerning what will arouse their passion. I was talking to a friend about a banner for the site and suggested a marionette with the strings cut. He didn't pick up on it. I guess it's too obscure an image, but it's what I'm attempting to be. We're all controlled by so many things that pull our strings but we don't know it anymore than a marionette knows it's a marionette. The problem is we can't cut all the strings at once or we'll collapse into a heap able to do nothing. We need to cut those strings one or two at a time and then learn how to work the part was worked by the string. It takes a long time and much practice. I'm passionate about being free from the things make me jerk and move which I didn't choose. Reading almost anywhere will get some folks aroused. This whole treatment of detainees and prisoners of war is a good example. People get passionate about it. They say extreme things with little or inaccurate information. The fact is the world is a violent place because humanity is violent. One cannot change violent humanity. The system I practice is a system for those who wish to change themselves not for those who wish to change the world. Most will agree it's the only sensible way to approach our world but the strings won't let them do it. Then they don't know how to cut them. And even if they did they'd have to know how to exercise to get motion in those parts were always being yanked by outer events. That's more work than most people are interested in attempting. They get distracted by love affairs, wars and events. It takes passion to continue with the difficult process. So, it seems my friend is right. I am a passionate man. And it seems my friend in New Zealand is right too. I can be as cold as a fish. All these things reside within me. And there's room for more. |
| | Posted 5/5/2004 9:34 AM - 47 Views - 2 eProps - 34 comments
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