The Earth Is Shaped

I've long lived with the philosophy of: "Whatever you believe, you might be wrong." I grew up around a lot of extreme thinkers, who'd quickly trade one certainty for another. They saw no value in a "maybe, maybe not" mindset. That was too wishy-washy, and true believers would hold it against them. So I watched them rush from faithless to faithful with dizzying speed – the middle space of skepticism was dangerous ground, hot coals to sprint across. For the duration they resisted a notion, an unshakable stubbornness seemed to hold them back. But then, suddenly and unexpectedly, they swapped positions.

 

Every belief system recognizes and defines that swift, unexplained switch. In my religious community, it was referred to as experiencing a "revelation" or a "witness". Insiders are aware that it's tenuous at first, being an abrupt about-face from previous thought processes. So they set about quickly providing purpose to remain with your new in-group, and arguments against the calls of outsiders. Conversion is easy; retention takes effort. Part of the process is convincing you that change came for a greater purpose, and random emotion was not the main motivation. You had your revelation – now you need a reason.

 

The individual belief systems don't differ much in approach. Take your pick of the current mix. Could be religions, politics, or heck, even the geometric shape of the planet these days. They all offer community, but with the caveat that you must think as they do to belong. Sure, there's a little wiggle room within the framework, but a singular qualifier walls it in. You must at least accept that this being is the one true God, this figurehead should rule the county, or that the Earth is shaped like a triangle – whatever. They each have independence-terminating borders to stop you drifting too far from an accepted norm.

 

Around a decade ago, I wrote this line in a poem: "I'm looking for reasons but falling for causes." At the time, I was in the midst of my own internal extrication, trying to delineate my actual beliefs from the ones I'd been raised with. I made a promise to pursue honesty with the same vigor I was taught to defend the faith. Believing right is the great distraction, as it's often shifting and owes the believer nothing. But living right – there's the ultimate challenge. For me, that's defined by valuing individual stories, personal memories, emotional resonance.

 

I have a wide enough audience to know that some deeply divisive people are reading this now and nodding their heads, never thinking for a second that it applies to them. They probably fill at least one position in life that's valued, either as a worker, spouse, parent, or friend. But rather than finding a way to be more wonderful in that field, they lose value with each butt of the head. Every extremist I've known falls to ultimate unkindness, placing the cause as king over love. If you find the thing that you do best (and I sure hope I've found mine), you may learn that doing it well is the greatest faith to follow. Hold fast.

 

January 17, 2025

Outram, Nova Scotia

 

Year 18, Day 6277 of my daily journal.

 

bluesky | etsy | facebook | instagram

substack | threads | tumblr | youtube

 

You can support my work

get things in the mail

and see everything

first on Patreon

Done