The title intrigued me and the Agenda was substantive, so I traveled to Lawrence, Kansas to attend a workshop put on by the Indigenous Environmental Network titled "Rights of Mother Earth: Restoring Indigenous Life Ways of Responsibility and Respect."  The conference was held on the grounds of the Haskell Indian Nations University an institution dedicated to educating Native American students and rising above episodes of its tragic past.

There, I was reminded of the debt I owe to the many good people who have dedicated their careers to the fight for environmental protection.  They have been at the forefront of the battle to maintain the ability of the global air, land and water to sustain life.  As I write that sentence, it strikes me that at some level the realization that there is in fact an ongoing battle to preserve the integrity of Mother Earth seems ridiculous.  Who would want to fight against securing the integrity of the planet's ability to support life? 

As is often the case, the answer to a question can be found within the question itself. That is certainly true of the query above.  Because there is no "who" that would argue against the wisdom of respecting the earth's natural life-sustaining systems.  But there is a "what" that has been very effective in compromising the glorious means by which Creator has demonstrated His love for humanity.  The gift of creation, the wondrous rocks, hills, and plains, magnificent seashores, and captivating mountain peaks, water resources in their various configurations, everything that comprises the glory of the universe, appears to be at risk, subject to the threat of possession and destruction by the all-consuming monster: the corporate being.  It levels mountaintops and gulps great quantities of water.  It justifies its demand with its need to grow. It has no capacity to consider the needs of others and its appetite knows no limits. It is an out-of-control entity brought to life by mankind and like an invasive plant that suffocates the existence of native species, must be eradicated (or at least reduced) in order for the natural order of life to return.

In April of 2010, the World People's Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth (held in Bolivia) adopted a Declaration that has since been submitted to the United Nations for consideration.  Elements of that declaration were discussed in Kansas last week.  Of primary importance was the definition of the word "rights."  It seems that the word itself has no counterpart among the languages of Native American peoples.  As the idea that one would have to fight to protect the existence of the natural world is a concept that defies logic, why should there be words for it? 

On the other side of the coin, Article 2 of the document asserts that "Mother Earth ... [has] the right to regenerate ... free from human disruptions" and ""the right to full and prompt restoration" for violations of rights "caused by human activities."  And I wonder how mankind can live on earth without causing some human disruptions.  The conference highlighted  the extreme possibilities:  Planet earth will survive without mankind versus mankind's activities will destroy life as we know it on the planet.  

Article 3 reaches for middle ground in its first provision:  "Every human being is responsible for respecting and living in harmony with Mother Earth." Ideologically, I doubt there is any human being who would disavow that statement.  Still I question whether anyone knows how to fully achieve it which leaves me wondering how we are going to leave the current battleground and reach the ideal.

In addition to the major skirmish (the battle to protect Mother Earth), it became apparent during the afternoon of the first day of a three day conference that there were underlying issues within the army.  I think every general knows that the troops have to be united before the enemy can be defeated.  Therefore it came as a painful surprise to me (when we were initially asked to breakout into groups wherein the nonindigenous participants would meet separately from the Native Peoples) that in 2012 there were still those who did not want to integrate the troops.  This approach distracted from what I believed to be the main objective of the meeting.  But the conversations around the issue helped me draw some of the most significant conclusions that I was able to take away from the conference.  That is the reminder that everyone looks at the world through their own set of lenses and that racial bias and prejudice are as likely to appear in gatherings where there is a presumption of a united "spirituality" as any other.  This realization saddened me because I do not believe the welfare of Mother Earth is going to be enhanced unless all of her children work in harmony to restore her health.  Surely, she will be defeated by the squabbling among her offspring as much as by those whose demands are excessive.  It seems clear that the current mission is to learn to live in this age of technology in harmony with Mother Earth, but that conclusion wasn't easily arrived at.  Nor do I believe will it be simply achieved.

But I do believe that objective is achievable.   Not only because I see it as the promise in the Lord's prayer incorporated in the phrase "Thy Kingdom Come," but also because I believe in the goodness of mankind, in his true nature despite the history of warfare waged tribe against tribe.  The conference made it clear that we are not yet a united people able to achieve our highest objectives.  We get caught up on words, and religion, and shades of human skin.  It also made it clear that opportunities for growth and healing appear in uncommon situations, and that when those objectives are sought by any individual, they will be embraced by others seeking the same.  For that reason (and a few others) I am indebted to the conference sponsors, speakers, facilitators and attendees.  I learned a great deal, not the least of which is how much I still have to learn.

    I've been thinking (still) about the coming of the Kingdom.  I can't get past the fact that Christians place emphasis on it in the frequently recited Lord's Prayer; yet the only reading I've seen that outlines a new world order along the lines I envision comes from a Native American writer.  He begins his essay with an acknowledgement of these challenging times on planet earth and explains that these days have long been prophesied by indigenous cultures.
    To create a new world of peace and harmony, he maintains all members of the human family must first acknowledge that they are one human family and that by nature mankind is not adversarial.  There is no debating that an end of warfare and the preparation for war will bring peace; but I've found (among those who claim to want peace) a separate belief in an  inherently hostile human spirit.  In other words, they believe there will always be war; because mankind creates war.  This of course, is the sticking point:  How can there be peace on earth if so many believe in the inherent hostility of others?
    This got me thinking about what I am contributing to the discussion.  I don't believe mankind is by nature hostile.  I believe we're all about self-preservation; but just haven't quite figured out how to support the peaceful coexistence of so many.  Of course, it must begin with a means to control greed which is (if not part of mankind's inherent nature) certainly a major cause of injustice.  I think the Kingdom we were born to create is not only harmonious; but incredibly beautiful.  When it manifests, the natural gifts (the bounty of the earth) will flourish in order to sustain all life on earth and man will fulfill his role as facilitator (as opposed to destroyer) of the natural order and cycle of life.
    With my thoughts aligned to the creation of a whole earth, a place where all God's creatures are respected, provided for and nurtured -- I wondered what, if anything, I might be doing that could be counter productive to the outcome I desire.  And it occurred to me that I have spent a great deal of time being angry about corporate greed and environmental degradation, social injustice and racial prejudice.  And I realized that in the world where God's Kingdom has manifested, there will be no place for my anger.
    It may be true (as I believe) that Americans have been duped by their government.  But perhaps the best I can do to help create a better world is to end the rage I have felt over the chicanery, criminality, duplicity and injustice I've witnessed.  To some that might seem like benign acceptance of the world economic and political situation which also seems like the "wrong" answer.  I am certain we must each contribute by committing to the probability of positive change.  How else will there be enough hope in the world?  The hope for better times will itself bring awareness of what must be overcome and perhaps I'll learn to wait with joy.

    Prophesies foretold of this era we're in, a time when science meets spirituality and those that doubt will be shown proof of the existence of a force commonly termed God.  There would undoubtedly be more rejoicing if the average reader could understand the proof offered in the physicists' arguments.  I think the delay in experiencing the epiphany can only be attributed to the difficulty of understanding quantum physics.  Recently I finished Fred Alan Wolf's Taking the Quantum Leap.  This was quite an accomplishment since I'd never enrolled in Physics for Girls which was offered as part of my high school curriculum.
    I can't say I found the book to be any easy read.  The concepts are cumbersome; but the conclusions are cause for celebration.  Why? Because they bring the reader into agreement with ancient spiritual beliefs.   Most importantly, science tells us that our perception changes our reality.  And that there are invisible energy fields around each of us that define our worldview.  So that by changing our perception we reach for a new identity, a new sense of self, or a new lifestyle.  Ancient oriential spirituality agrees by asserting the individual is reality and that the God force resides within.  In God or within the human all things are possible.
    All this brings me to why I commend those marching on Wall Street and now around the country.  They are the consciousness raisers reminding us that truth, justice, and integrity are possible within government.  They are helping us wake up and remember who we are and why we are here.  It takes a lot of energy to move creation, so I am glad their numbers are growing.  Even if I am unable to join them physically, I think I've caught their wavelength.  And my perception is that they have already succeed in their efforts.  I feel this because I believe the better world we all want to live in has already been created.  No healthy human being wants to see another go hungry.  Or shiver helpless in the cold.  Or fail to achieve their full potential.  And so I believe that the dis-ease of greed, corruption and thoughtless disregard for the welfare of others has already been cured.  The old ways of this earth will fall away as the people of this world reach for a better existence.  It's out there.  We simply must all believe in it and reach for it together.  One, two, three.... GO! 

I was talking to a Native American elder a few weeks ago.  She told me that this is the time for the old songs to be remembered.  Ancient prophesies speak of an age when mankind must make a choice between living a materialistic life or one that holds a sacred reverence for all life.  We're there it seems, and if anyone doubts that; perhaps they aren't paying attention to the state of the world.

I listened to her explanation of the awakening that is taking place in the hearts and souls of women worldwide.  It seems they are starting to hear the old songs.  And they are chanting them as they walk around lakes and roam the banks of rivers.  Some are canoeing across wider bodies of water; but all are praying over the water.  Every living thing needs water to survive.  Yet much of the earth's has been rendered unfit for use: humans can't drink it and the fish refuse to live in it.

There is a spot in the forest preserve set on a ridge overlooking a little river that flows through town on it's way to the Mississippi.  I often stop there as I ride my bike along the trail.  The past few days of rain have raised the water level and the storms have brought along sediment that has turned the river more brown than blue.  It's a dying river, I know; but I don't know ancient songs or the language in which they were sung.  So I stood there wondering whether the water spirits might be bilingual.

My native heritage is sketchy; but my call to the land is clear and strong.  As I thought about how I might go about learning the songs of the elders and sing them to help heal the earth,  I remembered reading that the healing powers of the medicine men had been ineffective in curing the diseases brought to the continent by European colonizers.  And so I wondered whether the old ways would be effective in cleaning up the environmental mess white mind had wrecked on the world.

That afternoon, my in box was full of appeals to contribute to worthy causes.  The tea party wants to dismantle the Environmental Protection Agency and give away public lands to corporate interests.  The only way to stop them is to maintain a democratic majority in the Senate.  The message was clear:  send money!    

And there in the span of a few short hours, I contemplated the different actions I could take to help heal Mother Earth.  I could pray using my own words and trust the Holy Spirit to honor my intention.  Or I could send money to an organization with a dedicated staff and honorable mission and hope their efforts are successful.  What assurance did I have that either action would be effective?  How certain am I that some action must be taken?  How can I feel confident that the words I am speaking are contributing to the cause?  

Last Sunday, when the newspaper banners blared NEVER FORGET, the minister preached Forgiveness.  I was glad that his message was short and sweet.  Glad that because he had preached it; I could write about 9/11 with an introduction that might be more palatable to those who still see America as invincible.   

All week, the papers were full of individual recollections: How lives had been changed that day, How we as a nation would never be same.  Yet, I think our behavior as a nation hasn't changed since then.  As citizens in the world's greatest democracy, most of us are still slugging along in our everyday lives; many more of us struggling to make ends meet.  And I am wondering whether any of us have begun to pay more attention to the actions of our government: direct and indirect, covert or overt that would foster the kind of ill-will and resentment toward our country that precipitated the attacks?  None of these reflections could diminish grief over the loss of loved ones, or the respect due our nation's heros who rise from among us during a time of crisis.  Still, I think it's fair to ask whether we are any closer as a people to having a clue as to why religious fanatics would make us their target.  Not that their actions should be justified or excused; but that they could be understood in terms of compassion for the suffering of the disenfranchised who share the perspective of seeing the mighty U.S. as the cause of their suffering.

Whether that perspective rings true (and I believe there are lengthy and valid arguments on both sides of the question), it bears consideration because it is a fact that Americans live in fear of terrorist threats from "enemies" whereas people who have only true friends would have nothing to fear. 

Last Sunday, the choir sang A Canticle of Hope.  It was a hymn of worship and praise to "the God who restores."  It made me question the length of the restoration.  Undoubtedly, much of America would like things to go back to the way they were before the towers fell.  So many folks see this day as the "day the trouble began".  It is their reference point and their rage against the terrorists prevents them from recognizing actions or events that lead up to that day.  Native American people might hope for restoration that went a little further.  I think this gives us a lot to contemplate as a nation and I believe the sooner we balance our pride against some of the less-than-noble actions our country has undertaken, the closer we will come to living in a peaceful world.

In case you are curious, the Bible passages read last Sunday are found in Matthew.  Chapter 18 versus 21-35.  There Jesus teaches that if you have been wronged, you should forgive not just up to 7 times, but 70 times 7. 

    Last week-end Northern Illinois was blessed with perfect weather.  Cloudless sky, fresh breezes and temps in the mid 70's.  The windows were wide open and the air was off.  I could have moved a cot to the screen porch and camped out along side the house.  There was nothing more to be asked of Mother Nature unless you were living on the east coast.  I watch the news.  I read the paper.  I knew about Irene's anticipated arrival and the anguish I felt for those living in the path of danger almost kept me from enjoying several days of glorious sunshine and great biking weather.
    Recovering co-dependents might understand where I am going with this. They may also identify with the almost guilty feeling of being happy when others are at risk.  Peddling along the river I was thinking about the disadvantage of living in this technological era:  having to struggle with too much information.  Without news reports and global communications systems, I would have been able to enjoy the butterflies dancing above wild flowers in the meadow as I cruised along a path through the forest preserve.  Instead, I was worrying about the storm and the lives in peril in another part of my country.  The usual prayers started running through my head ("Lord, let them be safe") at the same time my rational self said "are you kidding, they're not safe, there is a life-threatening storm bearing down on millions of Americans some of whom have no where to go to get to safety."  I kept peddling and I stopped worrying.  Not instantly, but with great effort I forced myself to think only of the light of God.  
    What point would there have been in giving in to consternation.  What would have been gained by becoming absorbed in the negative energy of the storm itself.  How was I going to receive the grace I needed to live my life to the fullest if I kept worrying about impending global disasters, the fall of the national and world economies, children at risk and the fate of the world.  My little world was just fine.
    As it turns out the damage wasn't as bad as expected; although, unfortunately, not everyone made it through the storm.  Would things have been better if I'd prayed harder or if everyone stopped what they were doing and joined in prayer.  Will we ever know, in this age of super technology we seem to be so enamored of, how to keep the world's children safe from harm, well-fed and well-protected.

        Chief Avrol Looking Horse stood in front of the blazing fire and explained that we were connected to all the sacred fires around the world; and I had a silly thought about a scene in a Harry Potter episode where Harry learns that he can jump into the fire and travel anywhere.
       I should explain that "we" was a gathering of over 200 people who had congregated on the summer solstice at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers a historic meeting site for the Dakota people.  The land is considered sacred to indigenous people who also believe that June 21 is a day that should be spent in worship.  Traditionally, the sun dance is held on the summer solstice.  It is seen as a time for renewal, a time to honor Mother Earth, to give thanks for Her blessings.  
       Taking part in the ceremonies that were held that day brought me great peace. 
I believed in what I was doing as much as anyone who believes in prayer hopes their prayers are worthy of being heard and answered.  But as the fire burned at the center of our gathering, my eyes were drawn to the suspension tower holding wire cables transporting electricity throughout the grid.  The paradox between the obvious display of the force and energy created by man as opposed to the invisibility of spiritual power transmitted through the fire or thought of man seemed apparent to me.  And I wondered about the effectiveness of our prayers at the same time I felt the urgency of them.
  
       Surely, in earlier times people who prayed had worries and fears about their life.  They wondered whether the buffalo would be found, if the hunt would be successful, if mother nature would be kind, if their children would be well.  Regardless of how technologically advanced a culture may perceive itself to be, it would seem that the nature of prayer throughout the ages hasn't and won't change.  As human beings we ask our creator to grant our desires for comfort and security as well as the blessing of having our basic needs for food and shelter well provided.  And yet, I believe the prayers said during this solstice were different from the ones prayed by people who stood on turtle island hundreds of years ago.  Back then it is doubtful that they worried about pollution and environmental destruction.  Their prayers for renewal of Mother Earth more likely acknowledged her power - the giving and taking and sustaining of life itself as opposed to the destructive forces of mankind that have so substantially interfered with the general course of nature.
       I don't know how many people stood around sacred fires that burned around the globe that day.  I only know that I listened to a woman explain the necessity of healing mother earth like this:  The hole in the ozone layer is analogous to an opening in the aura of a human being.  The sacred sites around the globe are the same as internal human energy fields known as chakras; thus prayers for healing at the sacred sites (places from which energy is transmitted) will help our planet heal.  While thinking of the human body and the earth itself as energy fields is undoubtedly a big leap for the part of America that relates to energy in terms of electrical sockets and transmission grids, I accept the philosophy with ease.  I also think the terminal tower standing behind the sacred fire that burned throughout the four-day event, was a paradoxical reminder of the tangible and intangible sources of energy currently surrounding each of us.  The energy transmitted through the power grids may make life more convenient for us, but it is the strength and substance of Mother Earth that creates the bounty that sustains us. 
       Just as Christ brought the teachings of the Judeo Christain beliefs to world, there have been teachers in native tradition.  One of the most revered is the White Buffalo Calf Woman.  Long ago She brought the sacred pipe to Her people.  She taught the elders and medicine men how to pray with it and She taught the women sacred ceremonies to help them raise their children and care for Mother Earth.  Her prophesies tell of a time of great turmoil when it will be important for the races of humanity to unite in order to prevent chaos and destruction.  As the 19th generational holder of the sacred pipe brought to his people, Chief Avrol Looking Horse is entrusted not only with the physical keeping of the pipe, but also with the duties associated with a healer, a medicine man whose people have a great tradition of recognizing the goodness and bounty of Mother Earth.  What a challenge to share messages of hope, healing and renewal during these troubled times; especially when a metal suspension tower -- a tribute to the force and some would argue destructive nature of mankind -- stands over a sacred fire.
        I enjoyed the experience of gathering with like-minded souls praying for renewal and for healing of Mother Earth. Even though many would consider the beliefs and behavior primitive, I believe many in the modern world may have forgotten the essence of who we are, that we have been born on Mother Earth, are part of her and rely upon her for sustenance.  So perhaps we should pray as though every day were as significant as the solstice; because, it might be!



(Note: the photo was taken after the ceremonies were complete and the ceremonial fire extinguished).


    

    We studied Revelations in Sunday School the day after the world was supposed to end.  The readings and conversation turned quickly to the phrase "Thy Kingdom Come" and I thought that was interesting because lately I've been thinking about what kind of Kingdom praying Christians are asking for.  Perhaps being caught up in rapture and ascending to heaven is what it's all about for many of them; and if that is the case, I would think the prayers would be more along the lines of "take me to Heaven, bring me to you."  Instead, the Lord's Prayer implores God's will be done "on Earth as it is in Heaven."  Certainly, we can assume that it's all going well up there.  What then do we suppose will happen when God's will is brought to earth?  It seems just as important to ask (on behalf of all zealous Christians and type A personalities) just what we are to do to help assure it gets here.  In other words, what are we asking for and shouldn't we be doing more than asking?  

    I imagine God's Kingdom to be a peaceful one.  But I was surprised to learn that a small gathering of American Christians believe the way to peace is through war.  One woman speaking her version of the Bible informed me that "God leads his people to war and is on their side in battle."  I told her I thought the battle scenes took place in the Old Testament and that the New was all about Jesus' admonition to turn the other cheek and love one another.  Even in Christian churches, I am having a tough time finding people who want to understand what fueled the animosity against the U.S. that lead to 9/11.  I want to understand why such hatred exists and I want the leaders of the nation I call home to understand the same.  After that I want the government to take action to effectuate change and then I want my countrymen to embrace forgiveness and reconciliation.  But mostly I want people to think about peace and wonder as I do whether we Americans can call ourselves a predominantly Christian nation at the same time we staff and supply military bases worldwide.  How can the occupation of another territory promote peace?  What right, rhyme or reason is there for this show of aggression?  After over 2000 years of fighting battles, I think supporters of Christianity should have picked up on the idea that peace doesn't come at the end of a war regardless of what country you are fighting for.

    As far as the coming of the end of the world, I have read some of the teachings of those who have studied the Mayan calendar forecasting an "end" on 12/21/2012.  They indicate that what many interpret as an end of the world is really the end of an era much the same way the phases of the moon are currently acknowledged.  In other words, the position of our solar system within the Milky Way is shifting.  This shift is the beginning of a new era.  It is interesting that entering this New Age (so many think of in conjunction with the Age of Aquarius) has been interpreted to mean and end to the world; when in reality it could only mean an end to a way of life, a way of thinking of being that itself has to die out in order for the world to be revitalized and continue to support life as we know it.

     By all accounts nothing much happened globally on the 21st of May that would indicate a big energetic shift.  But after reflecting on the teachings of Revelations, I experienced an epiphany -- my own little end of an era.  I saw that it was time for me to put an end to my frustration over living in a world so full of war and yes, hatred in the name of honoring an individual's God and Country.  I also realized that getting ticked off at governments that allow nuke plants to be constructed on fault lines and corporate interests to destroy ecosystems wasn't going to cause the ideal Kingdom to arrive any quicker.  That so many have chosen to dishonor the blessings of mother earth by greedily misappropriating the wealth of her natural resources to the detriment of  so many of her other children is a situation that isn't going to be over because thoughts of it enrage me.  My personal revelation that I should no longer be angry over war, and pollution and corruption made me realize that each of us on any given day can be caught up in our own rapture by allowing our thoughts to be guided by the Kingdom we want to see on earth.  In my ideal world there is peace and compassion and forgiveness, the kind that lets us start each day knowing we are all equals and equally responsible for bringing the Kingdom.  What does yours look like?  

Do you recite the Lord’s Prayer mouthing “thy Kingdom come” without thinking about what it might look like if it were here?  I’ve been contemplating it lately especially after seeing crowds cheering the death of Osama bin Laden.  Would they consider their actions part of God’s will:  that He would want his children to celebrate vengeance and violence?

             I am not the first to argue that violence creates more violence and hate breeds hate; but I am wondering how America which proclaims itself to be a primarily Christian nation can stand and cheer the violent death of an unarmed human being.  There was rejoicing in the streets at the same time it was understood that bin Laden’s death would undoubtedly result in more terrorist attacks around the globe. 

             It is one thing to stand up for freedom.  Defending yourself in a life-threatening situation or killing to eat in order to survive are inherently accepted survival methods.  But when will we as a culture move beyond the “eye for an eye” theology of the Old Testament and into the “turn the other cheek” ideals of the New?  From where I’m standing, the Kingdom looks like a place where people try to understand one another and work toward a goal of mutual respect.  So when the towers fell, why didn’t we as a nation ask ourselves what we’d done to initiate such contempt?  Why wasn’t our rage directed toward the apparent incompetence of appointed officials who ignored the warning signs of an attack?  And most importantly why haven’t we as a Christian nation stood up to violence and met it with love and compassion as our teacher instructed us?  Instead many have turned to hating Muslims – in many cases proclaiming theirs to be a violent religion; at the same time turning a blind eye to acts of aggression by American's who call themselves Christian.  This isn’t what my Kingdom looks like.  In it there is forgiveness, understanding and peace and no one celebrates the violent death of another.

            Teaching is something I truly enjoy and I was happy to be at the front of a classroom with my favorite subject at hand.  Early in the lecture one of my students raised her hand before pointing out that Illinois was the most corrupt state in the Union.  “It’s true,” she enthused, “they did a study on it and it’s us.  We’re the most corrupt in the nation.”  Having just returned to my home state after a decades-long absence, I hadn’t read or heard about that particular report.  For reasons of my own, I didn’t doubt her remarks; but in light of them how could I stand behind the lectern and continue my lecture on American Government?  What did I have to offer this generation of young Americans so full of cynicism that the mere mention of America’s great democracy made them chuckle?

            I was standing behind idealism and I didn’t waiver because ideals are something to stand up for.  We were reading parts of the Constitution aloud in class, something I enjoy because who (at the undergraduate level) reads it on their own?  And I tried to put some historical context around the passages, hoping to allow the students to see what I’d come to believe:  It is a pretty inspirational piece of writing.  Not perfect, but acknowledging its imperfection in a process for modification.  Not bad, considering the scope of its intention. 

            But the students brought me back to the present and there was nothing I could do but agree with them:  We've made a mess of it.  I’m grateful that they were willing to accept my use of the pronoun “we”.  I thought I’d have to spend part of a future lecture discussing how political apathy contributed to the corrupt nature of the current system.  But they were right on it.  Seems that even an apathetic generation is able to accept responsibility for the outcome of their indifference.  Good for them.

            The teaching gig was temporary.  I never had the chance to continue the discussion with them.  But I wanted to.  I wanted to tell them that what we have is an ideal that hasn’t been upheld.  I wanted to share with them the joy I feel because the ideal is present among us.  The system is far from perfect.  But perfection is arguably not attainable.  It is beauty that is willingly pursued.  We all acknowledge goodness, truth, and justice.  They are ideals to be sought after and it is our objective to reach them perhaps simultaneously knowing they can't be had.  But we don’t quit because we haven’t reached the goal.  We keep going even when we know someone’s turned out the lights and we can’t see well in the dark.  It’s during this darkness that we resolve to slow down, think it through, and hold on to the ideals, because without them we would truly be lost.