[‘Gun”, which I sent out in the newsletter recently. You can buy the print here etc.]
[Today’s guest blog post comes from JP Rangaswami.]
It’s Not Normal
Maybe it is a consequence of when I was born (1957) and where I grew up (Calcutta), but from a very young age I’ve believed in some things. Not many things. Some. Some very important things.
I believe that none of us is an accident, that we all have potential and purpose. We can deny ourselves reaching that potential and purpose. We can be denied reaching that potential and purpose by others. But we cannot deny the existence of that potential and purpose.
I believe, as part of this purpose, we are born to relate to others on earth, to enjoy spending time with others, talking with each other, listening to each other, having consideration for each other in covenant relationships. I believe that spending time with other humans is a joyous thing. We can deny ourselves this joy. We can be denied this joy. But we cannot deny the existence of this joy.
I believe, as part of this joy, we are born to share, to enjoy communal participation in things. In sharing, we make ourselves vulnerable. And in that vulnerability is joy. That that vulnerability and that joy inhabit all our relationships.
I believe, as part of this vulnerability, we are born to learn. To learn while relating to the people around us, to learn while sharing, to learn while making ourselves vulnerable. Learning involves doing new things. Sometimes the new things are called failures, sometimes they are called successes. We should celebrate both as learning.
I believe that doing all this: learning, loving, sharing, socialising: it’s called living. I believe that anything that stops us from reaching and extending our potential and purpose is wrong; I believe that anything that stops us relating to others is wrong; I believe that anything that stops us sharing is wrong; I believe that anything that stops us learning is wrong.
I believe that, seen from this perspective, there are many things that are wrong with this world. That this is not normal. And that we have the power to change it.
Remember who we are.
[JP Rangaswami is Chief Scientist at BT Group PLC. He blogs at www.confusedofcalcutta.com, tweets as @jobsworth, can be contacted via [email protected]. He’s passionate about his family, his work, his friends, his church community, books, music, information and food. He’s currently working on a number of books; the one he’s most likely to finish is about two of his passions: food and information.]
[The “Remember Who You Are” archive is here.]
