4 Constructs to Question

This Week, I offered up on Reflections '22.... and this morning, in the spirit of reflection, a kind of tangential thought sprung to mind of 4 constructs I humbly think we need question; at least to move beyond some unnecessary and even unhealthy "assumptions" picked up along the way. For now, I will simply offer them up, with the Understanding that I will be meandering through them myself.

CONSTRUCT #1. Time

• Simply put, time is a construct. Dates and times are constructs. What year is it actually? 2023, Gregorian style. The Hebrew Year is 5783, I believe. The Islamic Year is 1444 AH... if I am not mistaken. The Buddhist Year 2565? For me as Baha'i, it is 179 BE. Beyond calendar differences, consider that time past and future does not exist for us, when you think about it. Without breaking the timeline, I cannot move back or forward. I can only walk through it, one moment at a time. This is where I only live. Jack Kornfield said, "The trouble is, you think you have time.” It infers that we do not have time. But, I suggest that we do. One sliver of it. The time we have is NOW. I am going to munch on that some more.

CONSTRUCT #2. Money

• Money is a wondrous invention in that it provides for a capacity of exchange that is superior to barter. Money provides a universal measurement of exchange in measuring value transferred. But somewhere along the line, we have far too often come to see money as the end goal, and not as but a vehicle for exchange or measurement. We hoard it, unevenly distribute it, and measure human worth on it. Metal, paper nor digital money has no value but that which we place on it. It is a human invention, to serve us, not control us. Money has value in that it facilitates exchange. It is an invention of our own making; and can be re-invented. It has been re-invented countless times throughout history. Indeed, currency refers to the "current" form of money. I will be digging deeper into that for myself, as well.

CONSTRUCT #3. Borders

• Borders are another construct and human invention and they have changed since time in memoriam. Consider Europe alone... over the last millennia. In my own 62 years on the planet, I have witnessed enough of their transitory nature to understand this. The planet does not recognize them. Nature does not. Viruses do not. They serve to simply provide a sense of "order" to dealing between communities, but they are not carved in stone.

CONSTRUCT #4. Race

• Race is a fairly recent construct, far too often built on skin complexion. So, the human race has seemingly found a way to categorize by skin color in ways that other species never have. Dogs nor cats recognize such. My #bestlittledogintheworld Panda surely didn't. But, we have somehow found ways to determine the value of a human being based on skin pigment. Fascinating. I am not suggesting that there are no conversations needed around racial injustice. Clearly there are. But, part of that questioning must needs question this 400 year old construct.

No Answers

I have no answers here, only questions... and questions for me ... within.

What if I saw Time as only existing in the NOW? What if I truly understood that the only value of money is to facilitate exchange and that they who die with the most money take none with them? What if I understood that borders are no more permanent than my age? What if I better understood that there is one race with many wondrous complexions? With these questions, I am not preaching revolution, nor impracticality here... though their respective answers can provide a sense of personal and truer freedom I suggest.

Let me be clear. Measurements such as Time and Money and even Borders have their own natural and intrinsic value; but only to a degree. And "race", well that is a constrict I continue to deeply question. I offer these not to debate, but to humbly suggest we each independently question our absolutism in these areas. So much division in the world is grounded in these constructs and I simply think we need to question where their respective values begin, and end. As for me, I will be prayerfully meditating on same. I work one to one, and in small and larger groups ... with Entrepreneurs, Educators and Emerging Leaders ... as leaders seeking to unite and inspire... to more effectively respond to change… and constructively create it. I think questioning these constructs and better Understanding their relative values and purposes can go a long way in serving a world in need and building a future for us all.

Peace.

Barry Lewis Green, The Unity Guy with Epic Engage.

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