The Problem with Pedestals

When people uncover anything that they think is of high importance, they want to remember it; and often, to share it with others. So memories are tweaked and tales embellished to insure that it rings of paramount relevance. Then, to insure that it's admired by all and remains up front in ones' mind, it's buffed up and propped up on a high pedestal for the whole world to see. At this point, the thing becomes a mere reminder – a representation of what was so noteworthy to begin with. Then, as others flock to the sight, they only have the totem to view; and so, build their feelings and ideas around the image, rather than the substance it represents. As the plaque says it's highly important, those pilgrims take two dimensional photos to share, or do their best to describe it verbally. This, of course, further dilutes the meaning. Then we add generations playing the phone game and it gets more distorted each time it's passed down the line. So we're left with a misrepresentation of a shadow of an echo of a remembrance of an image of something that was truly profound.

Now, people, being as they are, would much rather be told what's what, than to have to do the work of ascertaining it for themselves. So people who make grand claims and promise the undeliverable gain droves of fans; while those who guide others to make their own discoveries seem to go largely unheard.

I know that people are only able to absorb the next logical piece of the puzzle, but when the notion of what the puzzle is and how it relates to us is merely an image sitting upon a pedestal … well, it's no wonder that so many are trying to gain sustenance from a smeared sketch on a crumpled napkin.

In our quick fix society where people want reality to conform to their beliefs and lifestyles, and expect all cures to come in a bottle, it's not surprising that people expect knowledge and wisdom to be injected into their brains. But the universal laws of physics and metaphysics don't yield to desires. It doesn't matter who the teacher is or what tome is referenced, there's no substitute for first hand realization.

So the next time you unearth a gem, instead of hanging it from the sky, cover it back up and draw a treasure map to share.