6/12/14
6/2/14
The crisis next time
Within the span on one short week we have seen the U. S. House of
Representatives pass an amendment to a defense bill that would prohibit
the Department of Defense from planning for the effects of climate
change, on the one hand, and the Environmental Protection Agency
announcing new rules that call for a 30% cut in carbon emissions from
electrical power plants because of climate change, on the other hand. Our society, clearly reflected in our government, is pulling in two opposite directions.
June 16 is the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's famous "House Divided" speech of 1858.
"It will become all one thing or all the other" and that will seem like a crisis.
The phrase "a house divided" comes from the Gospels and it was likely chosen by Lincoln because his audience was familiar with it in that context.
Jesus was teaching psychology!
What could possibly be more clear than this? Existential dilemmas and crisis are not about climate change, slavery or casting out demons. Existential dilemmas and crisis are all about split-mind thinking.
Consider the possibility of not enjoying the drama quite so much.
Boredom is good.
June 16 is the anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's famous "House Divided" speech of 1858.
"Mr. President and Gentlemen of the Convention.Like Lincoln, I believe that split-mind thinking will not long endure.
"If we could first know where we are, and whither we are tending, we could then better judge what to do, and how to do it.
"We are now far into the fifth year, since a policy was initiated, with the avowed object, and confident promise, of putting an end to slavery agitation. Under the operation of that policy, that agitation has not only, not ceased, but has constantly augmented. In my opinion, it will not cease, until a crisis shall have been reached, and passed.
"A house divided against itself cannot stand."
"I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free.I do not expect the Union to be dissolved -- I do not expect the house to fall -- but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other. . . . "
"It will become all one thing or all the other" and that will seem like a crisis.
The phrase "a house divided" comes from the Gospels and it was likely chosen by Lincoln because his audience was familiar with it in that context.
" And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? " Matthew 12:25 - 26Jesus "knew their thoughts" and he compared their thinking to a house divided.
Jesus was teaching psychology!
What could possibly be more clear than this? Existential dilemmas and crisis are not about climate change, slavery or casting out demons. Existential dilemmas and crisis are all about split-mind thinking.
Consider the possibility of not enjoying the drama quite so much.
Boredom is good.
- oOo -
Tom Fox
Louisville, Kentucky
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