Cool Mind Warm Heart

NONE OF US IS WHO WE THINK WE ARE

It was such a sad thing to feel the despair in Michael Jordan as he said in conjunction with his induction to the Basketball Hall of Fame that nothing in his life would fulfill him as much as playing basketball.  Think about it.  How would he know?  Is he so visionary, so mystical, so in tune with the ultimate nature of things that he grasps the limitless possibility of the universe to surprise and challenge––and finds it wanting? 

What he’s saying without realizing it, my guess is, is that he can’t conceive of anything providing him the rapture he has experienced playing basketball––and since he can’t conceive it, it must not be possible.  And there Mr. Jordan demonstrates the great delusion common to us all until we choose to look at things differently.  The delusion that the boundaries of our understanding are the boundaries of understanding itself. 

The Wisdom of Fools

His soul will never starve for exploits or excitements who is wise enough to be made a fool of.
-- G.K. Chesterton

Ted, Michael and the Price of Joy

No doubt by now Ted Kennedy and Michael Jackson have shared a little fist bump in the great beyond.  They had so much in common in their most recent incarnation.  They were born under the star named “Go Big or Stay Home.”  They were dramatic reminders to millions that we are all multi-dimensional beings––animated by nobility and ignorance: able to heal and inspire, as well as harm and confuse.

Laughter Intervened

Like all young men I set out to be a genius, but mercifully laughter intervened.

–– Laurence Durrell

Kissing Professor Gates

The universe certainly gave professor Henry Lewis Gates, Jr. of Harvard a big smooch.

It arrived at his doorstep dressed as a police officer.  Of course it wasn’t really a police officer.  It never is.  It was, rather, metaphysically speaking, a mirror.  Its purpose was to show the well-honored professor a part of himself that, should he choose to pay attention to it, would grow his self-understanding, and thus his compassion.

“Oh, youhoo, professor Gates,” said the universe, “you have at least one pretty big belief that’s weighing you down, you beautiful creature.  Here, let us show it to you; maybe you don’t need to hold it so tightly.”