Our Birthright

I am in grief.

My heart feels like it will burst from the strain of sorrow.

Of the many things that are passed down from generation to generation, is it possible that grief and sorrow be included with them?

If our genetics only selectively preserves the best attributes suitable for the survival of the next generation, then why should righteous indignation not be one of them?

Yes righteous indignation. Though the words have become associated throughout human history, not undeservedly, with fanaticism, heresy and subversion, it is a basic human truth that modern civilization owes itself to righteous indignation.

It refers to that basic insulting of human sensibility and reason so as to incur an overwhelming reaction. It is a result of something that so goes against common logic and accepted norms of civilized behavior as to require defiance of the highest order.

Righteous indignation is the reaction to the violation and perversion of Truth.

For historians and sociologists, such times indicate the sharp pains of growth and rebirth of civilization.

Or its destruction.

If the whole of human history were a record of our evolution as a species, then righteous indignation is the metric with which that evolution is measured, evolution being that process by which we record the development of our existence from being simple life forms, to more complex organisms.

If evolution is true of our physical bodies, then it should certainly prove equally true of our development as civilized creatures as well.

All of humanity is an organism. We have evolved from the individual, into a family, a community, a nation, a country, a region, a world.

We are now inextricably linked, whether we are aware of it or not. Like the varying parts of our own individual anatomies, we have come to a point where the functioning of the collective whole is severely diminished or outright compromised upon the loss of one part.

I am not saying here that we do away with what makes us individuals. For what is the Divine commandment to honor one’s father and mother other than a command to honor one’s roots? It is the first commandment with a promise: that we would all live long and full lives when we honor our unique heritage.

For it is through our individuality that our collective strength is established. For what is an organism other than a collection of individuals with specialized skills and purposes serving the benefit of the whole?

The development of a society as a living organism therefore is the next logical step in the evolution of humankind and of life in general.

I grieve because as proven so many times throughout our histories, Truth would not find favor in her supposed champions.

We – homo sapiens , “wise humans” – Creation’s current crown jewel on the miracle that is life, still refuse to believe and accept our common destiny and birthright: to become the stewards of life.

What have we exchanged our birthright for?

Like the hairy man Esau, who, in a moment of hunger, exchanged his birthright for a bowl of red stew, we have exchanged our birthright for brief moments of pleasure and satisfaction.

We slave and work to acquire material wealth and worldly power. And like all true vices, wealth and power are incapable of providing lasting satisfaction. We only need look at the wealthiest and most powerful among us to prove that truth: they always crave for more. Always more.

To the detriment of the rest of humanity.

Like the proverbial rich fool, we have become so enamored with our wealth and power that we build fortresses around them, thinking to protect them from those who would take them from us.

But lo! We have taken that even one step further! We seek to beat future thieves and robbers by oppressing and harassing them with the products of our riches: weaponry and technology so advanced that none can hope to overcome them.

We have forged for ourselves a sword so sharp that we have ended up cutting ourselves.

Are we truly beyond reason so as not to recognize the predicament we are in?

Our science is so advanced that we can predict certain physical events with pinpoint accurately, but we cannot predict our own doom?

Truly the Messiah admonished:

' You know how to interpret the weather signs in the sky, but you don't know how to interpret the signs of the times!

(Matthew 16:3 NLT)

If any fingers are being pointed here, they point primarily to myself, for I too am guilty of falling short of our Creator’s expectations.

Why is it, that out of the billions of stars in our galaxy, we have yet to find other signs of life?

Perhaps we are looking at it from the wrong perspective.

Perhaps we do not find life, because we have not gone there yet.

A promise was given to our supposed forefather Abraham who was once Abram:

Then the LORD took Abram outside and said to him, "Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That's how many descendants you will have!"

(Genesis 15:5 NLT)

Billions upon billions of stars. Galaxies. Whole solar systems. Uninhabited. Unoccupied.

Waiting.

Waiting for the miracle of life.

What have we exchanged our birthright for?

I carry the grief of generations past. Will there be generations left to grieve when I am gone?