In my reflections, if a bona fide member of the academy comments that my reflection contains either an original thought or argument, I will note it in that reflection. Also, if it is brought to my attention that what I have said is also mentioned in another source, I will also note it. My intention in these reflections is to stimulate inquiry, imagination, and broadening of horizons.- JP
Note: The most recent reflection is at the top and my first is at the bottom. You can either start at the bottom of the well and swim up or start at the top and dive in, your choice. – JP
Symbol Balance 11/22/25
This is not a partisan political reflection, but is my reflection on a change in perspective about symbols and how they are used. A recent change by one of our services allows for the display of the swastika by members of that service. As triggering as this is for the children of the members of ‘the greatest generation’, it is only triggering if only the most recent use of that symbol by a government is the focus. When our focus is on the origin of a symbol and original purpose, we are better served in how we view its varied use.
The swastika is an ancient Sanskrit symbol and it was displayed as a pair. When moved as a wheel, one was the tiller of the earth and the other was the mover of the earth to fill the furrow. The idea is balance. You can’t grow if you only dig the furrow and don’t cover the seed and you can’t grow if you don’t create the furrow. You can see this representation in several of the catacombs in Rome where the Christians buried their dead. Another symbol is the yin and yang of the Korean flag. Each are equal in area of the circle they form. The idea is that they are of the same intensity. but only work when forming a complete circle.
Also. consider Star Wars. That story would not work if you had only good or only evil as would all the stories of time that are based on the balance of light and dark. Every symbol we choose or create has an opposite. It is at our peril when we do not consider the opposite of the symbol we choose to represent us.
The world only works when our goal is balance.
Imagination 8/20/25
It has been a while since I wrote last. Not because I was not motivated, but because I was struggling with how to express my frustration of not getting to the point of dealing with our current situation. It seemed either too large to tackle or too complex until I tuned into a pod caster expressing their deep appreciation for Star Trek. Yes, I am a trekkie (lower case) and have enjoyed it ever since the big rush on Friday night in my fraternity was to get a spot in the TV room to watch Star Trek and Wild Wild West. I have continued to watch the movies and all the series with both fascination and introspection. I commend to those who have not watched to take time to watch the last two episodes of Star Trek: Discovery to engage in the depth of Star Trek, which gets to the point the pod caster was making, it is built on imagination.
I did not fully realize at the time the depth of what my theology professor said when the question was, what is an immutable characteristic of our being? Answer, imagination. Everything we encounter is born from imagination. From picking up that first rock as a child and wanting to find out what happens when it is propelled from your hand to thinking about what it will take to construct an Indy 500 winning car to developing a cure for cancer to deciding on the best route to the grocery store, none of it happens without imagination. So what has this to do with our current situation?
From the first moment we could express we are conscious, even if we could not define it, to the first time we looked up at the stars and asked “Why?”, we have engaged with a consciousness that permeates existence. It is up to each of us to engage at some level with the question of the existence of consciousness. I am of the belief that we are all connected because of the permeation of consciousness. My conscious thought is like the first rock. When it is propelled, it has an effect.
My thought, born from imagination, is now imbedded in consciousness. How it develops is the fun part of the discovery of our existence. My imagination may take me on a journey of many miles or into the back yard to smell the flowers or to a piece of paper to work on the unified filed theory, or to an effort to engage our current situation. Because I believe we are all connected, your thoughts effect my thoughts, and mine, yours. Isolation is an illusion.
So don’t disregard or belittle your imagination. It powers everything.
Not Sorry! 04/06/2025
No, this is not a Reeses’ ad. In the time from my last reflection, I have been trying to find a thread for all that is going on in the world and it has not been an easy time. So rather than write what could be considered a fluff piece reflection, I have been listening and considering what to say and how to say it. In a casual conversation I found the thread. The subject was how to converse with a person who sees life completely differently than you do. The person I was listening to said, “I’m sorry, but …” and that response crystalized the thread for me.
Whether we are talking in the abstract or concrete, no matter the object of the conversation, the ‘ I’m sorry, but …’ belies a condition which has subtly taken over our ability to be accountable for ourselves. This may seem a harsh perspective, but consider what those three words say about our attitudes and self evaluation. And that is the reason so much time has elapsed since my last reflection. Owning my attitudes and self evaluation is a deep dive. The dive encompasses everything from hearing from sources I had not considered before to ultimately learning how to authentically look in a mirror. All this gets me back to why those three words are destructive to our being.
When you say I’m sorry, do you really mean it? When you say I’m sorry, but …, my response is, If you’re sorry, why won’t you own it? If you are truly sorry, leave the but out. If you are truly sorry, try this. “I am sorry you feel this way, please help me to understand why you feel this way. ‘ I’m sorry, but …’ dimness and trivializes anything that follows.
We can only live as intended with one another when we do not dimness, trivialize and disregard the dignity of with whom we are communicating.
There is nothing wrong with being sorry. It is harmful to you when you don’t own it. So leave the but out and eventually you will find more fulfilling ways to communicate. I know that it won’t be easy, I speak from experience. I also know that when it really gets to you, a peanut butter and chocolate cup may not make it all better, but it sure tastes good.