We are lulled into the ordinary.
We simply live every day, and yet we forget to be amazed.
We've lived so much that we need much more to excite our passion.
Twice this week, I've been reminded of the need for recognition of the spiritual side of ourselves.
Maybe you don't believe in a God, or a higher power, or maybe you do.
Either way, don't you feel empty sometimes?
Don't you feel like there's something you're missing?
There are many people who exploit this human need for the spiritual.
Many turn away from any religion or faith because of the negative, the dogma.
Man has fought for thousands of years over the particulars of their faith, but they have missed the searching, the wonder, and the beauty of spiritual discovery.
In fighting over the petty details, they've missed the real message about the simplicity and goodness of being alive, being kind to others, and sharing of ourselves.
Two writers have brought this message home to me many times.
Neither of them are religious leaders, and yet, their work has moved me spiritually.
I'm going to talk about Thorton Wilder today, but I would like to note that
John Steinbeck's novel East of Eden was also very inspirational.
Thorton Wilder said that Our Town is "an attempt to find a value above all price for the smallest events in our daily lives".
So, when we watch Our Town; and if you haven't, you should; we begin to see a life unfold and it is probably like many lives before.
So here is this girl Emily. We've watched her romance with George Gibbs, her marriage to him, and her death. She's among the dead, and
she asks to go back for just one day.
Her birthday.
Her twelfth birthday.
Things go as you would expect, her mother is preparing breakfast, her father is returning from a trip.
This is what Emily says after witnessing just a small part of this day;
"I can't go on. It goes so fast. We don't have time to look at one another." She breaks down sobbing. The lights dim on the left half of the stage and her mother, Mrs. Webb disappears.
"I didn't realize. So, all that was going on and we never noticed. Take me back-up the hill-to my grave. But first; Wait! One more look.............................
Good-by, good-by world. Good-by Grover's Corners...................Mama and Papa. Good-by to clocks ticking...........and Mama's sunflowers. And food and coffee. And new ironed dresses and hot baths............and sleeping and waking. Oh, earth, you're too wonderful for anybody to realize you." She looks toward the Stage Manager and asks abruptly, through her tears: "Do any human beings realize life while they live it?-every,every minute?"
