'Something has gone wrong that absolutely requires us to fix it!'* But is there in fact a possibility of the radical alternative? If there is anything more depressing than the realisation that, for instance, the wars in Ukraine and Gaza are insane, and possibly the precursors of a general conflagration fatal to the whole of civilisation; that the Governments and media which conspire in the inept, incompetent and dishonest response to Covid or climate change are dancing to tunes at odds with the welfare of their peoples, or that the financial set-up operates on the basis of Ponzi schemes that will inevitably collapse; if there is anything more depressing than such thoughts, I say, it must be the conclusion that there is very little indeed which we can do about it all.
That may be so, and yet, hope springs eternal, like the Spring! After all, on a cold and wet day in Ireland in early Spring, the hope of it is, to say the least, elusive. Personally, I fall back on that old tale of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus; in fact, I cannot imagine how any joy is possible without that saving grace; this it is which enables me to look at my grandchildren and affirm, yes, you can have a great future, and it is indeed worth all the trouble of living! The problem remains that it can seem improbable and remote. The only answer to this is the experience of death and resurrection here and now, in our lives.
This requires that we submit to all the deaths in our lives, loosing our very dreams of life and letting go of illusions. I might mention the power of governments or 'science' or big corporations to solve our problems, with their stock-in-trade rockets and vaccines, or the massive heaps of debt that go with them. This is easier said than done, but if, for example, doctors had simply been left to get on with following their experience, consulting with their contacts, experimenting on their own account - if we trusted to their genuine authority, born of actually helping people, rather than the malign influence of those who were busy making fortunes at our expense - how different things could have been!
It also requires that we do likewise in all the minute particulars of life. It is actually a great thing that life cannot go on on its present course, so that we may enjoy the fun of trying to live differently,- not in fear for a change, but in expectation of great things to come! It just happens that I am engaged in a little rehearsal with my old boat. Things couldn't go on the way they were, five years ago,- she was leaking too much for a start, and anyway, the way diesel has got so expensive, with boats having to pay the same tax as cars, along with everything else, I had to give her up or find a new way of going on.
So now the crunch is getting very close, even in my own little way. Will we manage to get that electric drive together, and all the other jobs that need to be done to get the Anna M back to sea? Will we even manage to get that company off the ground, making marine electric drives? It has to be this Spring! I shall be heading back to Nazaré early next month. Will I ever get to sail along with the dophins on a calm and sparkling see again? Watch this space!
* Bret Weinstein https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLp9YMM7CI4
