Someone Else's Magic

We live now more than ever before in societies that emphasize conformity in many more aspects of life. Somewhat driven by our fast-developing yet rapidly changing technology which itself is grounded in consumerism and materialism, it seems implied that the more we conform to what everyone else has and does, the more we are supposed to be able to function and interact with each other appropriately.

Is it no wonder then, that a consideration of Christian doctrines which for many is the same as Christian thinking, includes a dogmatic impulse toward conformity to a formula that is still being debated now into a third millennium.

We make much of that time in life when there is sufficient experience of past years coupled with the prospect of an ample number of future years that we begin to ask:

Why do I do what I do? Why do I accept what I accept? Why do I enjoy some things and willing tolerate others?

Many have called it a "mid-life crisis" and one is prompted to ask why is it a crisis? Is it not the same moment we experience over and over before - and after - mid-life? Is it not one of those frequent moments when we stop and ask ourselves how we are doing and whether or not we are satisfied?

The answers to those questions are determined by who owns our dictionary. When we consider whether or not we are "doing okay" or "not doing so good", are the means and standards by which we measure those two values our own? Or do they belong to a peer group, a culture, or a spiritual society to which we belong?

Although it is perfectly acceptable to be in agreement with someone else's definitions, is it acceptable to not apply our own critical thinking as to whether value judgments based on someone else's magic are adequate for us?

When we consider our own personal state of being, do we automatically compare our own "success" with the "success" of someone else? Do we compare our own job, wealth or possessions with that of someone else - and find ourselves wanting?

Do we measure our own spirituality and sense of religion with some "attitudinal norm" commonly supported within our society?

Are such comparisons the most efficient way to stop for a moment, look around to see how we are doing and whether or not we are satisfied?

Reason, which is so much more than simply applied logic, includes an intuitive way of thinking and knowing. One does not get a sense of one's self through pure logic and one cannot get a handle on how one really feels by someone else's definitions - someone else's magic.

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