The Narrow Path (Updated from 3/25/15)

 

"There is nothing in machinery, there is nothing in embankments and railways and iron bridges and engineering devices to oblige them to be ugly.  Ugliness is the measure of imperfection."

-- H.G. Wells (1866-1946)

Is ugliness "the measure of imperfection," as Wells would have us believe?  Is the fact that something is ugly, necessarily demanding imperfection?  Look at Wells' statement, and we can see the flaw in his argument.  Everything he mentions was designed for function, not one of which necessarily demanded beauty, but all of which functions perfectly for the job intended.  Form and function are no guarantee of beauty, nor does the lack of beauty guarantee imperfection of function.

I look at the photo I took, above, in the engine room of the USS Alabama, and I see much beauty in the starkly industrial brass work, steel, and iron.  Perfection?  The USS Alabama still floats as a monument, and museum, to its mission and the sailors who manned her; imperfectly beautiful in her design to perfectly accomplish her task.  Today, any fantasy writer, cum artist, would probably be right at home in the bowels of this ship, while they hammered out some glorious "steampunk" novel or painting, all the while marveling at the "ugliness" around them, and thinking to themselves, how beautifully perfect a muse this retro, industrial, machine-look is for their art.

Sometimes, we narrow our path forward, as we search for some illusive sense of beauty and "perfection" in our lives.  At times, perfection is necessary to meet certain parameters required for efficiency.  But, beauty, per the examples Wells uses, is not necessary for this efficient perfection, any more than perfection is a necessity for beauty.  Whereas perfection is gauged objectively, beauty is subjective.  Beauty, after all, is in the eye of the beholder.

“No human face is exactly the same in its lines on each side, no leaf perfect in its lobes, no branch in its symmetry. All admit irregularity as they imply change; and to banish imperfection is to destroy expression, to check exertion, to paralyze vitality. All things are literally better, lovelier, and more beloved for the imperfections which have been divinely appointed, that the law of human life may be Effort, and the law of human judgment, Mercy.”

-- John Ruskin (1819-1900)

We should be wary of narrowing the path we tread.  The narrower our path, the more apt we are to spend most of our time watching where we step, instead of enjoying our journey.  The longer we travel the narrow path, the more apt we are to forget the reason for our journey.  But, if you keep your eye only on the prize, life will pass by you without notice.  You should be aware of the prize. Continue to move toward it on a broad path, casually gathering the keys necessary to claim it down the road.  If you speed toward the goal, you may find you have arrived without a clue, that is, if you understand you've arrived at all.  If you arrive without any understanding, it would be like your first time rebuilding an engine and realizing you've left the tools behind.  If you arrive without a clue, well, like my uncle says, you'd feel like a pig looking at a wristwatch.  Unfortunately, you'd probably look like the pig, as well.

We get nowhere without focusing on the task at hand. If we become too focused, we can find ourselves short and argumentative with those around us.  If we don't recognize this trait in ourselves, and let it go unabated, we run the risk of alienating those that care about us.

“Instead of focusing on how much you can accomplish, focus on how much you can absolutely love what you're doing.”

-- Leo Babauta

It's good to keep your path broad, the majority of the time, staying aware of everything and everyone around you.  In this way, you won't miss the love, camaraderie, and beauty along your journey, and you won't adopt a self-centered attitude where everything is always about you, but you're the only one who realizes it.  Try to un-focus on your goals often enough that you don't become a slave to them.  Take this "downtime" to make sure you don't forget why you have these goals.  

It is never about what the goals are but, rather, why you have them.  For instance, it does little good to alienate those you love while you're focused entirely on working on the goals for those you love.  Doing this, you will find yourself achieving your goals and having no one to share them with, or to appreciate your achievements with.  What fun?  Not.

"Too much self-centered attitude, you see, brings, you see, isolation. Result: loneliness, fear, anger. The extreme self-centered attitude is the source of suffering."

-- Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama

A broader path with "less focus" may not be perfect, it may not even lead to excellence,  and it may even be ugly.  Sometimes "perfection" isn't all it's cracked up to be.  Sometimes ugly can be "perfection" in disguise. Like the old battleship, she may not be pretty to look at, but piss her off and she will be beautiful to watch as she kicks some butt.

Everyone needs to get comfortable with the fact that sometimes life can be much happier, and robust, if you let a whole bunch of ugly into it.  As long as the "ugly" is good, what can it really hurt?  You might find that the less attractive it can be is just what the doctor ordered.  It, or they, just might get the job done.  Who's to say that a less-than-attractive person, giving you the once-over, might just be what you've been looking for in all the wrong places.  

Hey, sometimes love ain't pretty, but it works.  Broaden those horizons!

"Beautiful people are not always good, but good people are always beautiful."

-- Ali ibn Abi Talib (599-661)

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch - it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either view any more right or wrong than the other. Opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form their own opinions, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint.

I fervently hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning those opinions offered. After twenty-three years of military intelligence, I believe that engaging each other in this manner, and in this arena, is a way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience... and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. Following his service career, he spent 17 years working with the premier and world-renowned Western Institutional Review Board, helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. He also served 8 years on the Board of Directors for the Angela J. Bowen Foundation.

Ordained in 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As a weapon for his war on intolerance, he chose the pen. He wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's personal, spiritual path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as the lead chaplain at a regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony at: tolerantpastor@gmail.com