We've really taken that Genesis story to heart. You know the one I mean, where we're instructed to not eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Supposedly this kind of knowledge would make us too much like gods and that would make all Hell break loose. I've never understood this. Why is it better to be mediocre? Why shouldn't we be like gods? We have greatness inside us. Immortality even. Every now and then it manages to show through the cracks in the facade. If Michelangelo, Beethoven, and Einstein could do it, why shouldn't we? Why are the rest of us so easily dissuaded from letting it loose?While a case certainly can and should be made for taking knowledge too seriously, of putting it on a pedestal, revering it for seeming unreachable...and we have done that, much to the detriment of the planet...that doesn't mean we should eschew knowledge, thinking it's fine for nuclear physicists, but not for us. There-there, dears. Don't worry your pretty little heads. We'll tell you what to think. Then you'll never have to worry about a thing. It's all laid out for you. See? Don't think for yourselves, don't try to rise out of the muck. Just do what we say, and everything will go smoothly. You'll never have to suffer those horrible pangs of doubt, learn anything the hard way or ever, ever...God forbid!...get lost in thought.
And we go along with it. We take and keep jobs we hate. We assimilate painfully boring information in order to live a life of regret. Only when we're sure it's “too late” do we allow ourselves a wistful sigh of “if only.” We hate our lives.
We want our children to feel better, so we build their self esteem. We believe false praise does them good, telling them “Good job!” when they have, in fact, done nothing. We tell them this repeatedly and they come to believe a good job is not screaming for toys in Wal-Mart, when everybody knows material things are of the utmost importance. They think a good job is sitting or walking or eating food. Something a little more proactive, like reading a book or taking out the garbage without being asked elicits an extra over blown response. Like they just discovered the cure for AIDS, or something. Praise in the right place...of course. But for nothing? This keeps us down.
We're so punished by rewards, we can't even remember what we're here to do. When we forget our inner greatness and settle for being a cog in the machinery, we're rewarded with large bank accounts, fancy cars and hearty congratulations. Good for us. We grew up. Figured out what's important. But those who cannot give up their inner godliness, who strongly feel the need to rise above mediocrity, are scorned for being unrealistic...like faith in one's self is a crime against humanity...like the world would end if everybody were true to themselves. We do have a purpose, and it's not doing other people's work, it's not making quotas, cranking out widgets or scrubbing toilets. It's something fabulous. We have to do what's in our heart, not in spite of, but because of it's being the more difficult path. This is how we evolve. Save a rain forest. Create a new economy. End world hunger. It is hard. But this is the work we are here to do. And it's our only salvation.
Anne has finished her first novel and is busy peddling it to agents and publishers. She can be found wandering the streets of Crestone, CO and hanging out in Internet cafes. Contact her at annepyterek@gmail.com
