Drippings.

 Just some thoughts that have been tumbling around my head.  Nothing complete, just want to get them out.

I thought we were heading for Revival, turns out it was just good marketing.

I've found such peace in getting older.  The restrictions and diminishments of aging have somehow helped me to enjoy life.  Humility, even forced humility is it's own reward.  I've realized that I do not have a sophisticated gastro-palette.  This has led me to even more enjoyment of food.  Even the reduction of libido has led to an enjoyment of life.  I guess when you take the foot off the gas it's easier to look around.  In my vain and pride filled youth, I just knew I was destined for greatness.  But greatness is usually fueled by some absence.  An absence of love or approval that causes a person of talent to be singularly focused on achievement.  I've had love and approval in my life.  My lack of greatness or extraordinary achievement is replaced with a sweet contentment in which my family and friends are my prize.  My growth is internal and communal rather than singular and showy.  There is a sweetness in decay.  I'm a slightly over ripe fruit!  Not much to look at, but still quite pleasant and absent of the bitterness of youth.

No one knows anything, but not for lack of information.

The quest for Utopia always fails to consider the consequences of that pursuit.  In seeking perfection, the imperfect are cast aside.  You cannot have human interaction without imperfection.  On a large scale, you cannot have evolution, macro or micro, without imperfection.  It would be better to put our efforts into the miracle of Grace.  A quest for inclusion and tolerance in this mess that is humanity.  We don't stop seeking to improve our society and our individual lives, but we can keep the imperfection in the calculation.  And we utilize Grace to overcome.

Corrupted People don't know that everyone is not like them.  They believe everyone is playing a game, hiding their true nature of greed, lust and power.  They don't trust goodness or altruism, thinking it a manipulative ploy.  In fact, they think themselves more virtuous because they are upfront about their thirst.

Just caught a piece of thought provoking social media.  The question was, why are Conservatives and Christians(Evangelicals) so bad at making Art.  {This can be debated, but the response was informative}  Modern Christian content is of course Ideologically based.  That's not necessarily a good or a bad thing, but it does effect the POV.  Most Christian/Conservative/Ideological content FEELS heavy handed.  The "art" is leading you.  A review of an historical event with this in mind is skewed to review the makers POV.  In this scenario, the Art is essentially propaganda.  This goes for any ideological art.  Sometimes it's unapologetic and upfront, sometimes it's intentionally deceptive.  

My thought is not to debate the good or bad/right or wrong of it all, but to realize that my favorite art and content asks a question rather than force an answer.  Curiosity about the complexity of being a human being is far more compelling than being led to the artists desired answer.  Great art does have a POV and the Artist does have intention.  However, in my opinion, the best Art makes you realize that you really don't have any answers.  The Doubt or Awe of it all should leave you uneasy and questioning.

There are people that will choose to feed 100 in hopes that they will reach the 1 that actually needs it.

There are people that will choose to deny 100 for fear that there is 1 who does not deserve it.

Grace is not efficient, nor should it try to be.

In the extreme:

Liberalism is about a Utopian future.

Conservatism is about a Mythologized past.

Both are a problem.

Groups that are expressively intolerant of the diversity that exists in humanity seem to be very tolerant of their own hypocrisy.  Intolerant groups believe there is only one "right" way to exist and cling to that even if they, themselves cannot adhere.