Some Thoughts

Let me start with a re-interpretation of some Third Eye Blind Lyrics.

I wish you would step back from that ledge my friend.
You could cut ties with all the lies,
that you've been living in,
And if you do not want to see me again,
I would understand.

Originally the song, Jumper, was written about someone literally on the edge of something, poised to jump and to end it all. I'd like to offer an alternate interpretation.  Couldn't the "ledge" be the edge of anything? Bad decisions? Life choices and styles? Attitudes? And if there is a "ledge" that someone has been up against, wouldn't it be surrounded in lies that would justify living on the edge? And isn't it always that when you refuse to back down, you lose friends who would see you back down and live a better life?

I've been thinking about agency and decisions a lot lately. Several people I know have done really stupid things. Like, really stupid. They blind themselves to reality and just assume that whatever they're doing isn't as bad as everyone thinks it is or isn't really what it would seem to be. And I think we all do that from time to time. We have our pet sins or vices or whatever you want to call them, and we talk ourselves into believing they're not that bad. It's okay for us because we can handle it. Besides, we're above the natural consequences that others would have were they in these situations. Sometimes as people, we can be so narrow minded. I use the word "we" because I am so on this list. I do this all the time, and when I catch myself doing this, I just want to slap my forehead and scream, "What the heck are you doing!?!"

My dad runs this youth camp kind of thing for the priests and laurels in his ward. One of the very first things they do at this camp is to see this wooden cutout. It's the word "ME." Funny thing about the word "ME" - if you flip it upside down, it reads "WE." He uses this to illustrate how our perspectives or paradigms can be skewed sometimes. We think things are one way, but if we'd take a step back and look at what's really going on, our view would change. Unfortunately, change is really hard. No one wants to change; we want to stay the way we are because we are comfortable.

I bring this up because of some really intense situations I've been privy to lately that make me want to give these lyrics to those around me and, well I'll admit it, to myself as well. If they, and I, would pay attention to them, maybe life would be easier. Maybe we wouldn't kick up against the pricks. Maybe we'd be what we are trying to be: good people who are happy.

Thoughts?