What can love do today?

In 1969 while in graduate school (the first time), I recognized a line in my life and life space.  On one side of the line was the pacifist work I had participated in while in college – and the ever-present Viet Nam War.  On the other side of the line was me comfortably in graduate school with a deferment.  I paused.  I sensed the line.  I had to ask myself: which side am I on? 

That question led to withdrawing from school as I pursued conscientious objector status, which was granted. That was a life-changing moment, a life-changing line, a facing to the reality of my beliefs and my values, and an opening to the unknown.  I had no idea what was going to happen on the other side of that line if I crossed it.  Crossing it with my CO application I had no idea what service would be required of me if it were granted.  It was into the unknown.  It was a leap of faith.  It was life transforming.  I am oh so grateful.

Grateful not because I did not wind up in Viet Nam, did not wind up as a uniformed non-combatant part of the machine somewhere. But grateful because my life turned toward a new purpose that opened, slowly, like a flower. 

First service to children and families – Project Re-Ed and Lakeside School; then graduate school to earn a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, and ultimately to a consulting practice with the mission to make the work place a good place to work by developing virtue foundations and touchstones, and developing effective leadership and teamwork practices. 

That work sustained and grew me for more than forty years.  Then another seven or eight was a treat to start a mentoring program for medical students.  The point?  My career moved in the direction of bringing aids to the opportunity of developing human flourishing.  For that, I am beyond grateful.

Today in the year 2026, I am seeing the line.  On the one side is a political-economic machine that is seducing and consuming people.  My psychology training helps me to see how the seduction happens, and how the consumption is on-going as the culture of wealth and power teaches us what we need, what we must have, and so on.  We give – it takes. It is oh so subtle.

It is so subtle that people participate in it, I have and do participate in it, sometimes with little knowledge of what that participation is, or that I am even participating.   In fairness, part of the challenge of discerning positive versus negative life force is that there are many ambiguous and self-driven risks to what is presented to us.

For example, I can use this computer as an aid in probing me, my thoughts and revelations, I can use it to study others and their contributions; I could also use it to watch pornography.  So it is, in this case of the computer, not the tool that is the problem, it is what we do with it.

My life learning from both professional practice and personal practice is that the achievement of a good life requires practice.  Regular, five or six days a week – ok – you can do seven!  But practice of what?

Practice of the teachings of those who have studied these problems from the dawn of writing and likely before on to this day.  They have left a trail for us to follow.  This trail is very useful – it has been for me.  For the stories of these experienced-base revealers, along with their mistakes and the mistakes of people around them, is so powerful, and so clear. 

Daily, living with these stories and teachings, they sink into one’s soul.  That is exactly why they were provided.  For upon them, one could build a good life, if one only would – or will. 

The building I believe in is the building of unique dwellings – same architect but every soul dwelling unique.  Unique in talent, personal attributes of many sorts, and unique in time and place and all that comes with that.   I have known people who grew up in poverty as a minority whose life is an example of flourishing.  I have known people who grew up in great wealth and opportunity whose life ended in despair. 

Which path?  Which path depends on what we choose, our capability and willingness to see the line in our life and to decide, which side of that line do I want to be on.

Yes, most of us can see it somewhere around us.  At some level, most of us probably have a line that says NO to this, but . . . yes (please) to this. 

How clear are we on the line?  How clearly do we know our own heart and soul?  The devices around us are intended to separate us from heart and soul – stick the buds in (hey- cute – like buddies – hmm – think that is accidental?) and tune into the world as delivered to you by someone who wants your heart and soul, or at least your click. 

A line exists – do you see it?  What is your teacher revealing to you about the presence of that line in your life?  And what is your response?