One of my all-time favorite fiction series is by an author called Tad Williams. It is called "Otherland", and while the plot is extremely complex, the basics are that a group of people are trapped in a place known as Otherland, which is in reality an immensely intricate virtual reality. There is a character in the book who goes by the name Hideki Kunohara. He is an enigma; a scholar, poet, and scientist all rolled into one. He has a quote which I've found to be both intriguing and enlightening. Kunohara states, "Always these dualisms- mechanists or spiritualists. Always choosing one side of the coin, instead of simply choosing the coin itself. Both have so strongly rejected the others side that they will regret it one day."
Now, in the book, he is discussing two opposing forces, one mechanist (attempting to achieve immortality through technology), the other spiritualist (trying through more traditional and religious methods to gain eternal life). These two organizations are at continual odds with each other throughout the series.
Yet if we remove the quote from it's context (I know, I know, some literary traditionalist is rolling in his grave right now) and we take it simply at face value, it lends itself to a wide variety of interpretations. Here's mine.
Dualism: two opposing forces, in this case "mechanist" (read: material) and "spiritualist", or immaterial. Two contrasting viewpoints, one focusing entirely on the present: humanity, technology, physicality, this present moment in time, our lives as a whole. The other, attempting the opposite; seeking the afterlife, completely immersed in the spiritual, ignoring or rejecting this world and all it has to offer. Each side choosing one side of the coin, rather than the coin itself.
I know people on both sides of the coin. I have friends who live entirely in the moment, never concerned with anything even remotely spiritual or ethereal. I also know people who seclude themselves, turn within and focus wholly on the spiritual, rejecting the world outside them. I present an alternative: to live within the world, yet not be of the world. Remain aware of this world, enjoy your life, yet at the same time, keeping the ultimate goal in mind. As Christians, we are not only told but encouraged to live this way. We should not fall entirely into one camp or the other. We are told to embrace the coin, if you will. I see this quote as a challenge, a challenge to keep our minds focused on the spiritual while at the same embracing our physical life here on Earth. If we fail to do this, as Kunohara says, we will regret it one day. The ultimate outcome of our lives should be to enjoy and spread Christ's love and gift of salvation to the world. If we live entirely in the moment, focused only the physical and material, we get sidetracked away from that goal. Likewise, if we maintain a wonderful relationship with God, yet completely ignore others, we are failing just as hard. We need a safe medium, a reconciliation of both sides of the coin.
No comments:
Post a Comment