Imagine a network of tunnels, deep and dark. We are lost in it for a long time, confused and disoriented and feeling our way around. Soon, we begin to see a bit of light at the end of a particularly long tunnel. We know from experience that there must be unimaginable obstacles and threats along the way toward the light. We don’t even try to imagine them because anything is possible. Regardless, we determine that we will go towards the light, come what may, and we will finally escape the maddening darkness that we have been enduring.
Suddenly, from the opposite direction, we see another light. This light is moving towards us. When it reaches to where we are, we recognize that it is a member of our group who previously went on a solo quest in search of a way out. Now, this person has returned with this mobile light, a torch. We rejoice at our good fortune! Not only have we found the way out, we also have somebody who can go in front and lead us out! With the close range clarity provided by that person and the unity of purpose of the entire group, we can now march confidently out of the abyss.
Just then, the bearer of the torch says no, we cannot go that way. Having had the light for some time now, this person is saying that we must go in the opposite direction. A debate stirs up when some, maybe a majority, assert that we absolutely must go toward the distant light. I am there too and I agree with them. Another set listens keenly to the torch bearer who is an eloquent speaker and has managed to convince them that something they cannot see for themselves, something in the direction of darkness, actually exists. That it is a better way out is what the torch bearer insists and so the group splits up.
The first group decides to go in the direction of the natural light. They are so confident that they decide to tread that way without the mobile torch. While they cannot see what is directly before them as they walk, they have a clear view of the direction to go. The have a great overstanding of what will be at the destination when they finally arrive: abundant and everlasting light. They say that it is better to go slowly in the right direction than quickly in the wrong one. I watch them go; I watch them sadly and I turn around to strategize with the second group.
The second group is larger. It includes the torch bearer as well as the staunch believers in the torch bearer’s plan. Surprisingly, it also includes a majority of the people who originally opposed that plan. I am there too. We are cynical but we love the song that is sung by this eloquent leader, the one who lets us see what is right before our noses. So we follow the torch bearer for the sake of an immediate sense of security and peace of mind. Along the way though, things begin to change. Another individual in our group feels like the torch bearer is holding the flame too high as he walks ahead of us. This person begins to covet the torch and promises that she will hold the flame lower to the ground so that we can all see the ground better and therefore know where we are stepping. She tells us that she has our best interest in mind and that she is better prepared to be our torch bearer. The original torch bearer counters that the reason he holds the torch high is to ensure that people do not hit their heads on any sharp protruding rocks. Arguments abound, there is constantly this back and forth bickering. We see the merit in each of their arguments and we become schizophrenic. One minute we feel like we should see the ground, the next we feel like we should see the tunnel ceiling. So the torch switches between their hands as we vote every 5 hours or so to make it clear to them who we would like to hold the torch. Of course, the problem is that the one thing they both agree on wholeheartedly is that we all should be led further into the abyss. Little do we realize that 50 hours have flown by during this confusion.
We then begin to hear faint echos coming from the direction of the natural light. We can’t see that light anymore but we know that it exists. We all saw that light for ourselves and when we listen carefully in the direction of that light that we know, we can hear some familiar voices of reason shouting at us, telling us that they have made it to the promised land. The first group has been free of the tunnels for many hours now and some of them are trying to tell us to turn around and join them. They are waiting for us. Still, not everyone in our second group is willing. Those not still caught in the trance of the argumentative torch bearers decide to turn around. I turn around too and we head in the direction of the voices, the direction of the natural light.
We have now created a third group. There is more division now than ever before but I feel that it is this third group that has the greatest potential to reunite the one original, whole society. We are more adamant than ever about saving ourselves but we are shouting back because we care about people in the second group. We know they can hear us a lot clearer than they can hear those who have already made it to the destination. We keep calling back as we walk away but we feel it is just as important for us to keep moving forward. We are still not completely certain about the next steps but we have renewed confidence in our direction because we have heeded the calls of those who went before us.
Now we are beginning to see the light again. To the rest of you, we strongly insist that you turn around. Please turn around. Soon the torch will burn out. And we love you.
LOVEwise.