THE NATURAL QUESTION
BY JACOB W. HARPER
It’s only natural for a man to question, to look upon the world in which he resides and wonder. The scope of that world provides the perception which will frame his question. A man from the city, with a world of concrete, steel and cellular reception frames his question around the information overload which inundates his existence. He is the man of global existence, feeling the burden of a billion people and questioning the reality which has come to pass; perhaps even his role in the state of affairs.
The man of the country, whose world revolves upon agriculture and husbandry, questions the weather and the time which he fights against. He will question the greater world so far as it reflects on the price of corn, oil and beef. The world truly did not become smaller, the relevance of another’s problems is 10,000 miles away, not less important, but what frames his perception is what he has the time and capability to manage.
The man of the hills and mountains, whose world revolves upon what he can provide during the struggle which comes with the rising sun, frames his perception and questions based up on his struggle, the food upon his table and the work he must complete. What income he has comes from a world which brooks no great contemplation, no ego driven ulterior motive, but a question of how to gain ground on his struggle. The world is truly no smaller than the city dweller or the country man and the man of hills and mountains is no less empathetic to the plights of the world. He has to focus upon what problems are before him. His questions reflect that basic truth.
You see, the questions of mankind are relevant to the problems before us, the scope of which are framed by our perception and driven by our needs.
The opulence which mankind is finding in itself, provides the perception and even the hubris that mandates their focus or even guilt about the greater affairs of the world. While I applaud the empathy of caring on such a global level, I find myself drawn to the struggle of the day-to-day survival. The world is no larger for my worry, its denizens no safer and the planet no healthier. What changes the perception which frames my question is the needs that tax my attention. The most truly natural thing which occurs is not how large my questions are, but the fact that I asked them at all. Whether eloquent or profound or masterfully simple … we question. There is nothing more natural; not the mountains, plains, streams or oceans. Man’s questions never cease, starting at the fire and continuing to the habitation of other planets. The incessant and unquenchable need that man has to ask to fulfill some drive which is as natural as the foundations upon which creation has rested upon. And on the final days of man, when only one is left, upon his dying lips the question will fall uttered one last time … why? | JWH