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It wouldn't surprise me in the least if someone gathered information proving that every person on earth looked up to someone or something else.
Who knows, maybe human beings have an Idealism Gene and that gene encourages growth and effort, for better or worse.
More money, more territory, more power, more wisdom, more goodness, more love, more athletic prowess, more Hershey bars ... and someone or something else shines brightly as an example of what is so alluring.
But my experience is that when coming face to face with the someone or something that embodies what is looked up to, the someone or something is largely or totally unaware of the bright light they have produced in another's heart. What is extraordinary to others is just workaday stuff for the living example. Did Mother Teresa or Gandhi reflect on their goodness? Probably so, but to the extent that they did, how could the light they shed not be dimmed? A tennis player who is in the midst of a winning streak game reflects on his 'good' game at his peril. Why? Because thinking about a 'good' game takes energy and attention away from playing a good game. Better to leave the 'excellence' to others ... and play a good game.
Which is more important -- to praise and adore the compassion of a Jesus or Gautama Buddha or to bring a very personal compassion to bear on Jesus or Gautama Buddha? These were, after all, just men doing what they did. To elevate or denigrate them is possible, but does it really make much sense? A (wo)man does what s/he does. Do they sit around picking their noses about what they do -- "I got up this morning and decided I would be holy" -- or do they do what they do ... period? Maybe what they do will have good results. Maybe not. And still, they just do what they do and, with luck, learn to correct their mistakes.
This being April 1, April Fools' Day, perhaps it is a good day to reflect on the Idealism Gene. How long can anyone be so foolish? And the answer, of course, is "pretty damned long." But that doesn't mean there can't be some effort to overcome that foolishness ... do what we do with care and willingness and then see clearly exactly what's going on. Every day a fool. Every day a creator of not-terribly inventive tales... Jesus! Joseph! and Mary!
Me, I want to be a better liar. Who knows, maybe if I were a better liar, I could stop lying and enjoy a truth whose banality is nothing short of genius ... stop longing for genius and just be the genius I am, you are, he/she/or it is.
PS. On a more practical, laughable April Fools' Day frequency, here is the Museum of Hoaxes ... a place chock-a-block with wonderful lies.
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