I’m feeling optimistic about our future — both mine, and Mary’s, personally; and also the future of our country and the world. This is
partly because we are witnessing a kind of up-ending of shibboleths
and “narratives” that have neglected universals in engaging with our
deep human struggles and woundedness and given the floor to secondary
elements, in particular identity-predicates. Secondary traits and
qualities of a human being do not solve the inward hauntedness and
heartbreak and rejections that make a misery of so many people’s
lives. One’s color and background — the accidents of birth and
inheritance: these are important. But they are not fundamental. They
are insufficient to heal one’s core diseases.
What is fundamental is love found, love lost, love abandoned, love
spurned, love tramped on, love unheard. These are the fundamentals of
pain. And they last! They cry out for understanding and empathy,
forgiveness and resurrection, acquiescence and peace.
This is why, for example, the moods of Jimmy Webb, the famous
songwriter who is still performing, have something to teach us. Webb,
who wrote “MacArthur Park” and “Wichita Lineman”, among many other
searching songs, has never dated. His songs are about aching,
breaking hearts; and also restitution, renewed serenity, and the peril
of rejection to a person’s sanity! Jimmy Webb is a kind of “Universal
Soldier” (Donovan), whose themes have been neglected under an
avalanche of “narratives” and superficial engagement..
Now is a time to regain some composure by means of universal
understanding and also universal rescue. But for that to happen,
secondary “solutions” have got to go. Not because they are wrong, as
such. But because they don’t work.
Love in Restitution: That’s the Ticket.