Some things happen which have more up than down; other things have more down than up.  Rarely are things all up or all down.  The same goes for people.

We no longer live in a Newtonian world of constant rules.  Our universe is more about chaos and disorder which uncannily has a way of producing beautiful things, including life.  The shifting of tectonic plates causes earthquakes and tsunamis, and at the same time are important to the production of our atmosphere.

Spanish philosopher Miguel de Unamuno conceived the idea of order being the exception to disorder.  This is not a popular idea to those who like the illusion of an orderly world.  A quick look around Western society and you’d think we’ve just about got everything under control; it’s a shock to come across things or people not fitting in.  We live in our orderly bubbles whilst people like Nassim Taleb tell us we’re living in Mediocristan (somewhat chaotic) and Extremistan (full-on chaotic).

‘The universe story and the human story are a play of forces rational and nonrational, conscious and unconscious,of fate and fortune, nature and nurture.’*

We prefer our data and statistics over the anecdotal, yet the exceptions help us to see a greater or deeper reality to respond to: ‘This is the great turnaround!  It all depends on whether we are willing to see down as up’.*

The story of “all is well and under control” leads to a hopeless place.  The story which somehow holds together the good, the bad, and the ugly not only allows for chaos and pain, but significant joy and hope.  Life in all its fullness seems to invite us in when we give all.

‘The journey will demand much of you.  In fact it will demand all of you.  All your passion.  All your courage.  All your talent. All your discipline.  All your life.’**

This journey does not begin with rose-tinted hope, but when face what really is and we live forward between our pride and courage, our greed and generosity, our foolishness and wisdom.

(*From Richard Rohr’s Falling Upward.)
(**FromErwin McManus’s The Artisan Soul.)