Time Patterns– At Principle Gallery
We have lived by the assumption that what was good for us would be good for the world…. We have been wrong. We must change our lives, so that it will be possible to live by the contrary assumption that what is good for the world will be good for us. And that requires that we make the effort to know the world and to learn what is good for it. We must learn to cooperate in its processes, and to yield to its limits. But even more important, we must learn to acknowledge that the creation is full of mystery; we will never entirely understand it. We must abandon arrogance and stand in awe. We must recover the sense of the majesty of creation, and the ability to be worshipful in its presence. For I do not doubt that it is only on the condition of humility and reverence before the world that our species will be able to remain in it.
— Wendell Berry, A Native Hill (1968 essay)
We must abandon arrogance and stand in awe…
If only we would do that.
Unfortunately, I don’t see us standing in humility and reverence before the world anytime soon.
That’s it. That’s all I have to say this morning. Probably said too much and could have pared it down even more.
Here’s Sierra Hull doing an only slightly bluegrass-tinged cover of the Tears For Fears song, Mad World.
Redtree Times 
Clearly, Wendell Berry understands both humility and reverence. So do many, many people I know; they don’t deserve to be included in that “us.” If they received the same publicity as the obnoxious, hateful, and insensitive, it might encourage others toward change.
I only meant we in the collective sense, the face we put forward to the rest of the world. I also know many, many people who exhibit humility and reverence in their daily lives and I would never put them in the same category as the obnoxious and hateful. You’re right, they receive little, if any, attention nor do they seek the spotlight. And that’s unfortunate for us all because, as you point out, we need better examples to emulate.
My comment may seem like it echoes that of shoreacres, but I think what has happened in our overly social media world is that the noise comes from those mentioned by the response already given … the overly noisy and often WRONG voices of I believe, the minority rather than the silent majority who perhaps are working quietly to preserve the world, and in those quiet moments spending them in awe.
Perhaps the error is not being vocal enough to drown out the noise, arrogance and ignorance of those others. Sadly some of them have “official” titles that make them feel like they are entitled and their opinions matter …. even when so horribly wrong.
Reality television and social media has increasingly rewarded bad behavior, elevating the loudest and crudest voices. As a result, there are younger generations who only know this type of behavior, seeing it as being perfectly normal. It is so ingrained in our society now that I don’t know how that changes.
I liked Sierra Hull’s version of the Tears for Fears song, Mad World you included and sadly it does seem like it far too often these days, mad. I worry about our kids and their kids and I watch a nephew take jobs planting trees trying to make the planet heal itself and yet the temperatures increase while that noisy minority says … no such thing as climate change and or … here have another bomb. Sigh.
Maybe a few more Burt Bacharach versions of What the World Needs Now is Love.
I truly appreciate your blog, with art and quotes and music. Keep it up!