Tribes, Colors, Ventures

Tribe mentality will be the end of us all. The need to be fiercely defined as belonging to a clique, a band, a fraternity, a group, a clan, a community, a country, an ideology can result to an all consuming close minded fear of "the others." An unhealthy emotional fixation to a cause can do just about the same.

I remember all too clearly a small - group discussion

(years ago)  on being "chosen"- in the biblical sense - and how it was imperative that we members pour our utmost in supporting the hierarchy of the "group" so that the church would be firmly established and grow in body. 

Out the blue I  uttered unintentionally, "and what would become of one if he/ she were not with a group? What would one be if stripped of all titles and  labels and sorority? What would you be left with? Who would you be? Would you still be you then? Who are you?!"

Much to say, it rattled the discussion and brought the leader out of focus. He had to accommodate my twirping ninja ruminations instead of pleasantly proceeding to point number 4 of an 8 dotted outline. Discussion buzzed. Coffee, tea and fudge brownies served after the meetings were held back for an extra half hour that night.

The gist of going there was that, although there is security in community, if abused, can most certainly curtail one's liberty to discover new thoughts, new worlds. It  breeds prejudiced intellectual derelicts absorbed in protecting every facet of the tribe's code, rituals, laws and agenda. But everything is about agenda, after all, isn't it?

Today, I still bind myself  to the labels of society, but this I freely do in understanding of order, for the sake of voicing out my principles, and as an avenue to contribute in whatever way I can..  However,  no group can imprison me, no ideology gag me, except that which binds by love.

My 40's is proving to be a step to a higher plane. I now venture into life with a stable sense of confidence and serenity. Uninhibited by how others could possibly perceive me and unencumbered by any organizational dogma, I see everything through a palette of colors.

Everyone I encounter, even the usual baker, my gardener, the daily mailman is more preciously human - a mixture of all hues infused with life, no more no less. My affection has expanded from seeing what was once just within my sphere of influence, to the river of all humanity. 

It is as if, I now understand something - a kind of secret of  the ages - known only to those who dare embrace life's transforming creed,  fiercely loyal only to light.