An Affair of the Heart

Home is where the Heart Is.

“The man who misses all the fun,

Is he who says, “It can’t be done.”

In solemn pride, he stands aloof

And greets each venture with reproof.

Had he the power he’d efface

The history of the human race;

We’d have no radio or motor cars,

No streets lit by electric stars. (WJB)

Can we just slow down a little? Just a little bit? Whoa Millie!

For just a sec’?

Robert Frost reflects on how COURAGE does not follow rutted paths in:

The Road Not Taken: (WJB)

”Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

Differences.

Between Man and Machine.

In the classic story, The Wizard of Oz, Supernatural Guidance was necessary for the characters attempting to return home. The Great and Powerful Oz was guiding the Tin Man, The Cowardly Lion, The Scarecrow and Dorothy to “home”. Separately, each required a special part of themselves to be re born, re-kindled. The Lion tasked with discovering his Courage, The Scarecrow challenged to strengthen his brain-albeit he was young, Most notably, the Tin Man challenged most of all to find his heart. You see, he was made of metal. He needed a heart. The Tin Man was cold and indifferent as he used to be a man of flesh and blood. He was cursed by a witch that caused him to lose his heart. He was challenged in the most important and interesting way—Was the Tin Man’s journey one of needing a new heart or a change of heart. What was it the Tin Man really needed?

What is obvious to some, is not obvious to others. Whether one obeys the instructions is really and truly a personal decision. Think of The Wizard as the fictional part of yourself—your mind. You are the character and the character of your own life. The difference between man and machine dictates that life is non-fiction. A change of heart is specific to a human. The mind and body connection attests to the idea it is fairly hard to effect one without affecting the other. A machine, unlike you, does not have the built up and hard won character that you have the opportunity to build within.

Flesh and blood require more of our resources to live, to feel alive than we individually realize. A world without the ability to feel may look like the one we are all currently and dreadfully experiencing in all its isolating manifestations.

It really ain’t brain surgery. The heart is the core of so many decisions. The driver. We just either refuse to obey its messages, or decide to ignore its wisdom. Without its strength, we are all dead. Character is the ability to carry out a good resolution long after the excitement of the moment has passed. This is one thing a machine and the human you have in common. The up to the minute ability to capture. But not the innate ability to discern.

Discernment is unique to humans. Without it, we are all rote.

Obedience is not really a fluid concept. It either is, or it isn’t. Either this side or that side of the line. The line drawn in the sand. Yet.

A machine is only as capable as the power it receives. The heart is capable. The heart is able to take a beating while it is beating. It is very powerful. Or can be. With the right instructions, rules, regulations.

The list of heart filled abilities is endless.

The heart is capable!! Just look at all its capabilities:

Strength

Bleed.

Go out to another.

Be in ones’s mouth.

Land in one’s boots.

Be in one’s mouth.

Throat.

Be in the right place.

Jump out of one’s chest

Be against something.

Have it set on

Isnt in it

Leap

Miss a beat

Skip a beat

Stand still

Desire

Change

Speak a sober heart

Faint

Be as good as gold

The size of Texas

Heavy

Stout

Ache

Be at the center of an issue

Big

Broken

Cold hands warm heart

Get to the heart of

And many, many more….

Including, but not limited to: Hunger

Hunger not because it is only fruitful, but because hunger feeds obedience and grows values and principles. Heart instructions is probably the healthiest way forward. The hungriest way of pickling any old beast.

Follow it, your heart, and you will never go wrong.

Obedience to and of the heart is required, essential even. When the time comes to draw your last breath, ask yourself, would you prefer a machine that mal-functions be the decider of your life, or personal and strict obedience to a higher principle? You may not have the power to pull your own plug, but do you want to put the power into a cold and indifferent man of tin? Whether a giant life-like metal resembling a human that you can see? Or a principled value that you cannot see.

The difference between man and machine. A vital question and essential nutrient.

Haven’t we exhaustively debated the possibilities of life to death? Or collectively failed to ask the best, most prudent and important questions? Difference of opinion or difference of fact is not dependent on whether it is a man or machine. Can we just slow down a little? Just a little bit. Whoa Millie? For just a sec?

Our hearts may depend on it.