Attention ...

Having played human games for many years, recently resumed after blessed rest walking countless kilometres in Iberia, on and off in early retirement, it's becoming clear, in a vague kind of way, that being human is contingent on being in relationship, preferably with at least one other human, though a dog or cat may do, temporarily anyway ...

The quote from the Christian bible, attributed to Jesus Christ: When two or more or gathered together in my name, was puzzling me ... why not one? Perhaps JC was superhuman, though appearing in human form?

This reminder of the Christian story came yesterday, on a trip over the fells to Hexham and a chance meeting with the Bethel folks, generating funds and awareness for their worthy work rehabilating humans with addictions, in need of miracles to reveal the demons and dispel them with the Light of Fellowship and Love ... and Cake, an addiction to which is far less dangerous, though too much sugar is the latest demon on the stage, blamed for rotting teeth, obesity, diabetes and all that ... half an hour of theology and philosophy with a positive and curious young man, Will, though wary of demons still lurking in the shadows, led to ... a cakey takeaway for later gorging and more information about the extent of the problem of addiction, rooted in trauma and cause of devasting suffering in the so-called civilised world ... not least the in the devasted post-industrial wastelands of North East England ...

So, what's the answer?

Rationed, measured, clinical interventions, led by Psychiatrists and Psychotherapists with NICE controlled hands tied behind their backs? Talking therapies without wrap around whole systems care badged IAPT but in practice INEPT may be more accurate! If that sounds cruel, it's for effect but has some truth when rationing leads to limited services, mainly CBT and if you're eligible some Mindfulness thrown in. What seems clearer by the day, is sound science, peer support, purpose, fellowship, structure and, most of all, unconditional Love, Frees the Way ... and that happens to be the name of an inspirational project in Seaham, by the way!

Which brings us to Social Media, or anti-social media some may say ... its addictive nature, the corporations,  which is to say entities endowed with human status but no soul, are programmed to keep us dependent for our very existence to stay in touch, virtually, with our attention ... and as is well known, in the human realm at least, attention is energy; where attention goes, energy flows and that's our creativity, our Power to change our reality ...

If all that is true, it seems wise to pay attention to what we want, not what we hate ... not bluntly, since it's a fine art to keep the world as was and appears to be, in awareness, whilst focusing on the future, where we do have choices ... and paradoxically, once all questions are examined deeply there is said to be choiceless awareness ... and no past or future, only Now ... hmmm

As for our friends at Bethel, Free the Way, and all the other peer led projects building back some self-esteem ... it's often helpful to have a healthy ego in order for it to take the risk of its own annihilation. .. where freedom is ...