It is my impression that about a great deal of things, most people assume that the current situation, their present reality not only will last forever, but also that it's the same everywhere.
And I mean that both materially as well as culturally. We tend to think that our principles are adhered to by everyone or everywhere and the goods we have (or don't have) are in the same availability everywhere.
We tend to take things for granted.
In a way, that is both Human and expected. We need "points of stability" to build our lives and cultures upon. If we saw everything as flux and relative, we wouldn't be able to muster the will to accomplish anything.
There is, though, a two-fold problem stemming from such a mindset:
1) We don't appreciate the blessings we have. We're inclined to believe that not only we rightfully deserve them, but also that they'll last forever.
2) We extend our personal reality, by assumption, to everyone, everywhere.
Everything we have, whether it's God-give, like the natural resources, or the product of someone's toil and/or chance, is not invulnerable to change.
If nothing else, it's a possible victim of Entropy. That is why all our assets need to be regarded with great respect and prudence, lest we lose them.
The diversity of our little planet, both culturally and materially, is so vast that one's "essential" or "common practice" may be another's luxury or "unthinkable", even within the confines of the same family!
When we take things for granted, when we are so sure about reality, we are in danger of forgetting that simple fact of diverstiy and plurality and establish our impression, our truth as THE truth, the only way to see things.
That may ultimately lead us to closing our minds and hearts to other people (and their view of reality) and becoming intolerant to anything different than us.
They say: "a rolling stone gathers no moss". Relating that to the present subject, I'd say that taking things for granted creates stagnation of the mind and the soul. Therefore, action against such stagnation is necessary.
No hope, unless it's action.
And I mean that both materially as well as culturally. We tend to think that our principles are adhered to by everyone or everywhere and the goods we have (or don't have) are in the same availability everywhere.
We tend to take things for granted.
In a way, that is both Human and expected. We need "points of stability" to build our lives and cultures upon. If we saw everything as flux and relative, we wouldn't be able to muster the will to accomplish anything.
There is, though, a two-fold problem stemming from such a mindset:
1) We don't appreciate the blessings we have. We're inclined to believe that not only we rightfully deserve them, but also that they'll last forever.
2) We extend our personal reality, by assumption, to everyone, everywhere.
Everything we have, whether it's God-give, like the natural resources, or the product of someone's toil and/or chance, is not invulnerable to change.
If nothing else, it's a possible victim of Entropy. That is why all our assets need to be regarded with great respect and prudence, lest we lose them.
The diversity of our little planet, both culturally and materially, is so vast that one's "essential" or "common practice" may be another's luxury or "unthinkable", even within the confines of the same family!
When we take things for granted, when we are so sure about reality, we are in danger of forgetting that simple fact of diverstiy and plurality and establish our impression, our truth as THE truth, the only way to see things.
That may ultimately lead us to closing our minds and hearts to other people (and their view of reality) and becoming intolerant to anything different than us.
They say: "a rolling stone gathers no moss". Relating that to the present subject, I'd say that taking things for granted creates stagnation of the mind and the soul. Therefore, action against such stagnation is necessary.
No hope, unless it's action.
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