This Is Water
― David Foster Wallace , "This Is Water: Some Thoughts, Delivered on a Significant Occasion, about Living a Compassionate Life"
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Dear Kate,
COVID brings out the best and worst in us, doesn't it?
Or before we can decide if it's the best or worst (or one of the same) a life crisis tends to reveal about ourselves, we must admit it makes a resounding comment on how we live our life.
Listen to ourselves. Really, do that. It is not an easy thing to do.
A fish might be an expert in the study of dryland, but water is what she knows she must stay in. It is nice to know about other realities or "competing narratives," but a fish's tale is one that wiggles in water. If she's to protest, she protests about water quality. If she's to cry, her tears will get carried away into the open sea, in solidarity with all fishkind. Water is her world nonetheless and always, life good or bad or in between.
So what is your water? Listen to yourself--if you can get the water out of your ears.
I like to listen to people. I realize people are very sure about what they are fearful of, raging against, especially during this pandemic, but not entirely clear what they are hopeful for, excited about. There are warnings and pleas, defiance/pushbacks and optimism/pullforwards, but the world is a stage and the stage is water. Flip how you like but what you swim in is still what you get.
Ever wonder why even for Christians, who are supposed to be "Good News" people, there are usually only words of protest and caution (about, yes, water, and sometimes with great sense and sensibility), but rarely any of joy and hope? that even as we speak about our God we must first and foremost use Him to gloss over the embarrassing bad news that is our life?
What is good and new and can happen on Monday, the wateriest of all days?
Yours, Alex
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