as if it matters what we believe,
or think we know is true.
as if it matters what we do, or how we feel.
as if all-life-on-Earth cares what happens to us,
or to our species.
as if it makes a difference
whether we talk about what’s ahead
with our friends and children.
as if anyone would see us as an example,
a model, an inspiration,
someone to change their life.
as if love could possibly make things better.
as if ithere’s any point
imagining a better world a thousand years from now.
as if anything is really going to change.
as if.
as if it matters.
(image above from the cover of an ando perez book; artist unknown)
Coincidentally, you chose to put this out, the same day I discovered “O Me! O Life!” by Walt Whitman (through an Apple ad no less)
—
Oh me! Oh life! of the questions of these recurring,
Of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities fill’d with the foolish,
Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?)
Of eyes that vainly crave the light, of the objects mean, of the struggle ever renew’d,
Of the poor results of all, of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me,
Of the empty and useless years of the rest, with the rest me intertwined,
The question, O me! so sad, recurring—What good amid these, O me, O life?
Answer.
That you are here—that life exists and identity,
That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.
—
Reminds me of thoughts many have; Who cares about any of this? What significance does any human life truly have? Is there any point to it all?
Beautiful, I just happened to stumble onto this gem in the most peculiar way, jokingly I searched how to save the world. Voila, I landed here and read about an interesting jubilant pessimist. I just wanted to answer this and say, I care, it matters to me but then again I’m alive here asking the same questions but not in such an artful way. I wish I were able to save this world and help everyone but I’m too afraid to speak against those that have been brainwashed since they were little on what is true and what is false. I hope for an awakening in people, where instead of believing in an invisible god and outlandish stories, to believe in themselves and each other. Is that ridiculous of me? I’d much rather we all still believed in mythology for they have a god that helps you find lost items, which would truly be helpful for me. I can never find a matching pair of socks.
Many great articles here, wish I would have found this sooner. Just ordered the book, if it’s anything like what I’ve been reading I have no doubt it’s superb. I would like to be more virtuous and able to stand in the middle ground. Love the Walt Whitman comment too, nice coincidence.
Thank you Dave, your writing is awesomeness.
to live ‘as if’ it mattered?
it is a nice sentiment, but I think you are missing the part where you do matter because you were called here by God and you were given a gift, the gift of life and the opportunity to experience this world. To be or not to be?
The previous comment that you are an ‘interesting jubilant pessimist’ is not far off the mark. But jubilant is the key word. In your generosity of spirit and honesty sharing your observations, your concerns, ‘yourself’, you have given a lot to a lot of people. Real Live Preacher wrote;
We think having faith means being convinced God exists in the same way we are convinced a chair exists. People who cannot be completely convinced of God’s existence think faith is impossible for them. Not so. People who doubt can have great faith because faith is something you do, not something you think. In fact, the greater your doubt the more heroic your faith.
Real Live Preacher, RealLivePreacher.com Weblog, December 26, 2002
I suggest you watch ‘It’s a Wonderful Life” again and try to imagine the world as if a lot of folks had not taken value and encountered truths they would not have if you had not posed all the questions they encountered here. Maybe it is about asking the question more than seeing what we have ‘gained’ ?
Just a poem, Bart. I think you missed the “double entendre” of the title. You know… “act as if”.