One

One (1,236)

August 12th, 2011

Two seems to be the problem. Even though, as a society we romantically insist that a couple is better than a single, a pair can create many more problems than an individual could ever contort on his own. Even in poker, two cards are useless unless they’re two of a kind. Yes, without agreement, two create confusion, frustration, arguments and dissension instead of bringing the synchronicity that causes human life to hum in harmony.

Case in point: we extol the power of a two-party system in this country. What exactly has it done for us except to delay success, inhibit progress, manifest murderous debate and jam up our future in meaningless gridlock?

Another example: Jesus said one of the signs of the end of the world would be that people would continue to “marry and be given in marriage.” We dreamily skip our way into the bliss of matrimony, while simultaneously allowing our comedians and artists to degrade the institution by decrying its effectiveness and value. After all, we are convinced that men and women have no chance of ever getting along, yet we continue to write love song after sonnet after play after movie, worshipping the notion and seemingly sacred nature of sexual love.

Also, we proudly say there are many paths to God and then watch as religion tangles the world up in feuds, disputes and wars which are based upon an interpretation of a being who desires to be simple, whom we complicate with rules. We even arrogantly insist there are countless ways to achieve happiness when we all know that happiness is only achieved by fulfilling oneself in pursuing the fulfillment of others.

I don’t read the Bible like other people do. I don’t really care whether Jonah was in a whale. I don’t muse over how big the tabernacle of Solomon was. I don’t become excited about the geneology of Jesus. I seek all spiritual information, secular entertainment and daily activities to find the confirmation of one truth—and that truth is simple:

I find my peace by helping others find theirs.

That’s it.

If the discovery of my peace is the creation of conflict in the lives of other people, I have suddenly become the lord of confusion. I have confounded the planet on which I live and frustrated the lives of those who inhabit this sphere with me.

As I said earlier, the problem seems to be two—when we make the leap from ourselves to another, whether it’s a person, an idea, a dream, a religion, a business or even purchasing a car. Until we get one right we are unworthy of two.

I’m working on one. Are you?

I am not so cynical as to believe that two is impossible, or so ridiculous as to contend that men and women are so different that peaceful coexistence or even merger is implausible. I am not so dogmatic that I proclaim that my particular book of religion is more significant than others—because all truth resides in the discovery of one, which includes room for one more.

One.

Maybe we should work on that before we start trying to coagulate together in commonality. Perhaps in discovering our own fragility and joyously uncovering some surprising strengths, we will have the humility to bump up against those who resemble us in more ways than not.

The problem seems to be two—because when two believe they have to be a single unit, they lose their power, for compromise does not multiply intensity, but rather, seems to dilute the potion.

Two must always be one plus one.