I was struck by an article I read in the New York Times. It's entitled Americans Haven't Found an Alternative to Religion. The author is Lauren Jackson. She's making the case that there is no alternative because there is no ritual outside of religion. There's no way of creating community. And that's part of the explanation of why people, especially young people, are going back to religion.
I have something to add to that. Actually, I'm borrowing this idea from the author Jennifer Michael Hecht. She makes the case from a non-religious point of view, she actually calls herself an atheist.
She says that art can be an organizing means for ritual and community. In the book that she wrote, "The Wonder Paradox", she makes the case for poetry as the organizing force. She writes about the paradox of wonder:
(P)art of the paradox of wonder for me, and by wide anecdotal report, is that thinking about it feels true, feels worth one's time. Considering our contradictions and embracing the weirdness of existence feels when you're doing it as if it's a valuable thing to do. Poetry can help us do it.
I am no expert in poetry. I have only recently kind of been prompted to embed myself from time to time in the words and allow them to kind of move me.
But I thought I'd give you a little ritual. This comes from the book, "The Poetry of Impermanence, Mindfulness and Joy", edited by John Brehm.
A poem by Denise Levertov, entitled Aware.
When I opened the door
I found the vine leaves
speaking among themselves in abundant
whispers.
My presence made them
hush their green breath,
embarrassed, the way
humans stand up, buttoning their jackets,
acting as if they were leaving anyway, as if
the conversation had ended
just before you arrived.
I liked
the glimpse I had, though,
of their obscure
gestures. I liked the sound
of such private voices. Next time,
I'll move like cautious sunlight, open
the door by fractions, eavesdrop
peacefully.
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