THE ACT OF CONTEMPLATION: "To Kindle A Light"

     ... man's task...is to become conscious of the contents that press upward from the  
     unconscious. Neither should he persist in his unconsciousness, nor remain identical
     with the unconscious elements of his being, thus evading his destiny, which is to
     create more and more consciousness.
     As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light
     in the darkness of mere being. 
                                                          C.G.Jung, Memories, Dreams, Reflections

How do we do this? How do we kindle a light in the darkness of these times in which we are living? What brought this to my mind was the walk my wife and I enjoy in our neighborhood.

This walk we try to take daily passes through a neighborhood of tree-lined streets, safe and comfortable for strolling by yourself or with good friends. Most often we meet others out for a walk and exercise. But increasingly we notice that many people we meet are staring into their hand-held phones. Even on a beautiful sun-lit day, flowers blooming and birds singing in a canopy of tree-top beauty, the phones in their hands command more attention than the world of nature around us.

What is up with this, my wife and I ponder as we stroll along. Why in the world would a person be more interested in their phones than in nature around us and the ongoing life of kids, pets, and friendly neighbors?

And the thought came to me. Of course, the familiarity of our neighborhood can bore us. How could our neighborhood life possibly compete with the 24/7 information streaming through our hands with news and images enhanced by artificial intelligence engineered and monetized to exploit the viewer.

What has happened to us, our society? Yes, it is true that my wife and I walk in our familiar neighborhood that we love, but yet on some deeper level we experience a feeling that something is different. And it is.

                                   Consider this:

• RELIGION AS ENTERTAINMENT.  Mega churches have created mega-stars, and the networks of television, broadcasting, and other media propel programs, sermons, music and appeals for money into our homes, waiting rooms, and offices. Like rock stars, the savvy-hungry religious groups lock arms with the media deities to research their audiences and gain information to promote the entertainment that speaks to the minds of their audiences.
• THE CLOSING OF LOCAL CHURCHES.  According to Gallop and the Pew Research Center, attendance and membership in local churches has fallen possibly as much as 50%. Americans with no religious affiliation ("religious nones") has increased as local churches have closed. As the local church vanishes so does the support often provided for child care, aid to the sick and needy, as well as outreach to groups of people in need far away. Granted, the stories of sexual abuse and affiliation with the regressive political groups have done their share of providing reasons to shut down the churches. But on the whole, the major denominations have sought to teach proper boundaries for clergy and lay leaders. Regardless, 3500 churches have closed in recent years and one estimate is that 15,000 churches could close in 2025. And, I might add, that the same phenomenon appears to be happening with local synagogues as well.
• THE CLOSING OF HOSPITALS.  But it is not just churches that have closed in recent years. So have 300 hospitals closed between 2010-2023, while 192 have opened. Many of the closings are rural hospitals suffering from the stress of financial strain, staff shortages due to their inability to retain a sufficient number of doctors, nurses, and administrative staff capable of tending the technology ushered in with AI and other medical advances.
• THE DECLINE OF FAMILY PRACTICES.  Medical students have to make a tough decision early on in their medical education. A major concern faces them regarding future income. Family practice does not match other specialties in income. However, with the decline in the family practice of medicine also comes a lessening of attention in obstetrics, hospital care, public health, home house calls, and hospital care.
• THE STRESS UPON UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES AS THE STUDENT POPULATION CHANGES.  Undergraduate enrollment has declined since its peek in 2010. Part of this is due to the lower birth rates in the early 2000s, but that is not the whole picture. For example, once again the doubt of a college education's value has risen,  challenging what colleges and universities offer. At the same time a number of subcultures  support misogny with a perception that the male status has declined. This is the "manosphere" ideology that men are victims who must aggressively regain emotional control and physical dominance over women.

I need not continue to make my point. Yes, the world has changed, our politics have changed, our future prospects have changed, and our capacity to mobilize and respond remains questionable. But it is with this in mind that I return to Jung's quote offered at the beginning of this writing. I repeat his summation: "As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being."

I cannot tell you the number of people who sit in my consulting room and describe their darkness. I understand and support all their efforts to raise their voices, to raise their signs and to call for the responsible action of our leaders.

But before we act, we must take care to do so from the depth of our mind in accordance with the contemplation of our soul. To that end, I will return next time as I remind myself and you that contemplation is an act of courage in the face of adversity, "that all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well."