‘possibility in facing both ways’

10 November 2008

Categories: THUNK audio series

PLAY ‘THE POSSIBILITY IN FACING BOTH WAYS’ (3 minute 43 seconds)

THE WORDS …

It’s quite possible that more than a handful of those sat around the breakfast table would one day be Presidents of their respective nations.

They offered to speak in English but it didn’t seem appropriate. I waived them on in their native Spanish. And followed as best I could, only to be drawn into my drifting thoughts. Thoughts that would take me somewhere perhaps unrecognisable to my intellect.

Through an underwhelming command of the Spanish language, it seemed obvious that the conversation had set its sights on the development of the region. On what Central America might be. On the becoming like another. Perhaps like other more prosperous neighbors.

But my camera & I had just experienced the very soul of a nation whilst filming of ‘The Soul of Guatemala’, and my drifting imagination was screaming the obvious omission from the conversation. An omission that looked straight past the simplicity of the wealth under a nation’s own feet. And past the possibility such wealth held for the contentment, happiness and peace its citizens.

Such wealth, it seems, is hidden well.

And as the conversation continued around the table, it occurred to me that the politics of government might do well to understand the innate needs of a human being before setting out in an attempt to solve her problems. And to rearrange the status quo.

Such an understanding, or perhaps even simply the curiosity to explore an understanding, might provoke the clarity of wisdom in an arena where the complexities of human misunderstanding are commonly addressed with the complexities of human misunderstanding.

And then it occurred to me that the experience of a government, on behalf of its nation, looking to become something was no different than the experience of you & I.

Why would it be? A government is simply a collection of individuals. As is a nation.

And it is you & I, the individual human being who takes part in the seemingly endless journey to become someone. To become better. More acceptable. To find proof that we deserve to belong. That we have a place. Whilst altogether looking straight past the subtlety that is the wealth under our own two feet.

So perhaps the responsibility for the change of a nation, and of the world lies with you. And with me. With us. In the light of our individual and collective curiosity to find out why we are here. And to explore the depth to which the definition of wealth will reach.

Perhaps Barack Obama’s three seemingly potent words of 4th November 2008, contain an implicit invitation for each of us to wonder. About their meaning.

‘Yes we can’. ‘YES – WE - CAN’.

Perhaps it’s time for you & I to face both ways. Outward. And inward.

For when enough individuals look both ways, perhaps a nation is able to do the same.