Relieved Tension

As I look at my experiences the last few weeks (and actually throughout my life) I see the presence of a lot of tension. This is not bad, this is just the way life is. We are constantly climbing up and down mountains, tightening and loosening our respective ropes. I suppose this is why people are so attracted to great works of music. At the opera we can listen to a sour dissonance relieve itself into a comfortable harmony - over and over again. And the best part is that we do not have to think about it, we can just feel it as it unconsiciously sinks into our skin.

For example, this weekend I participated in re-orientation for JVC in which all 90 of us from California and Arizona got together to renew our commitment to community, simplicity, social justice and spirituality. The theme of the retreat was the peak oil crisis. The idea is that we have already used 1 trillion of the 2 trillion barrels of oil that are in existence, meaning that in a short while the world is going to drastically change - and not for the better (it depends how you want to look at it of course). Many believe the rich will become richer and the poor poorer, more exploitation of labor, movement into more simple lives, the death of the SUV, people may even have to cut down to one car per family (gasp). I think we all get the idea. With a loss of our main energy source comes a narrowing of our current existence. Some believe the impending doom is close at hand, others believe we will be ok.

Here is our first tension. Do we look at this (possible) crisis and think to ourselves how can we fix it? What new technology can we come out with? How can we make sure that even with the decrease availability of oil we can go on living our lives with the same prosperity? Or, should we say that the problem does not lie in an oil shortage, but with the gargantuan expectations that we now hold having grown up in 20th Century America? We do not so much need to make sure technology keeps up with our desires, we have to take a look at our apparent needs and identify them for what they are - superfulous wants. This is a huge tension, something that we are going to have to face no matter what, especially if we are ever to live more spiritual lives.

Another tension. I spent the week talking to fellow JVs who were taken aback by the impending doom (I actually do not think it is going to be that crazy). They were completely freaking out. But even with all the serious talk, I felt surrounded by some of the most idealistic people I know. I heard more that once, "I want to change the world." For real. The problem is that we can get to thinking like that because we are surrounded once again by all white, middle class, college graduates who often only need to worry about where we are going to school next year or what international program we are going to enter into. This is not a bad thing, we should use our blessings in the best ways possible. I just always remember that when I get back to work I am not surrounded by the same people anymore. They have different histories and different desires and expectations. This world is a little bit harder. So I guess there is this confrontation of idealism and reality, something that we must continually face. To be completely idealistic is not very smart because then you are not living in the real world, just a created, foundationless dream. To get stuck in reality or "the way things are" is equally dangerous, because change would never happen if we thought this way all the time. So there is of course a great balancing act, and moderation is key. I suppose this is not new ground, but it helps to find and experience concrete examples as we live life.