Joseph Campbell says, "Becoming is always fractional. And being is total."
Isn't that just a painful word? "Fractional." I can feel that word. It's a word that tightens my chest and makes me exhale just slightly to much or inhale not enough. "Becoming is fractional." It's supposed to be a great thing, to be "becoming." It's desirable, it's sought after, the word itself is a compliment, "becoming." It the difference between caterpillar and butterfly, ugly duckling and graceful swan. "Becoming" is a thing of metaphors, it's an expression of all that we advocate, it's what we must strive to do, lest "become" become that passive form of itself which is never to be desired.
It's exhausting, always becoming. There just seem to be so few moments of "being" in my life lately, and I'm trying to teach myself to have and to hold onto those short periods of rest throughout the day. To just "be" is a good thing. It's a holy thing, I think.
I've learned though, that there's a difference in letting myself rest and letting myself vegetate, just like there's a difference in making myself work and wearing myself out. I'm so afraid of that lethargy. I am so afraid of getting caught up in a world of nothing when there is a whole world of something to be had.
Isn't that just a painful word? "Fractional." I can feel that word. It's a word that tightens my chest and makes me exhale just slightly to much or inhale not enough. "Becoming is fractional." It's supposed to be a great thing, to be "becoming." It's desirable, it's sought after, the word itself is a compliment, "becoming." It the difference between caterpillar and butterfly, ugly duckling and graceful swan. "Becoming" is a thing of metaphors, it's an expression of all that we advocate, it's what we must strive to do, lest "become" become that passive form of itself which is never to be desired.
It's exhausting, always becoming. There just seem to be so few moments of "being" in my life lately, and I'm trying to teach myself to have and to hold onto those short periods of rest throughout the day. To just "be" is a good thing. It's a holy thing, I think.
I've learned though, that there's a difference in letting myself rest and letting myself vegetate, just like there's a difference in making myself work and wearing myself out. I'm so afraid of that lethargy. I am so afraid of getting caught up in a world of nothing when there is a whole world of something to be had.