I was recently reading and ran across the name of Vaclav Havel and some of his writings. Young folks today would not know about him. Even I have to recognize it has been a long time since he was a factor in the news. I was surprised, however, to learn that he died in 2011. I thought it was longer ago. I remember being impressed with him---both as a writer and as a politician/leader.
He first came on the scene in my mind when I read about his involvement in the anti-communist movement in the 1970s and 80s. He served multiple stints in prison because of his opposition. In my mind he was a principled person who was standing up for the rights of his fellow citizens. He played a key role in what was called the “Velvet Revolution,” which toppled Communism in 1989. He then served as President of Czechoslovakia. After Slovakia left the alliance with the Czech Republic, Havel served as President of that Republic.
I share this background in order that we might understand the one-line quotation that jumped out to me in my reading. Havel says, “the salvation of this human world lies nowhere else than in the human heart, in the human power to reflect, in human meekness and in human responsibility.” I do think Havel was very interested in the salvation of this human world. It is easy to miss his point. No doubt, many people are attracted to the idea of salvation. In fact, I suspect this would have been the key to religion as I think about the religious upbringing in my family. Most of the people with whom I associated would have claimed they were “saved” or, at least, hoped they were. In my own mind being saved was the ticket to heaven.
While I don’t need to underestimate the importance of that point, I do find agreement with Havel’s concern to save this human world. Although he is now deceased, I think he would agree with my concern for the impersonalization that can be seen in so much of life. Of course, it is easy to blame technology for all of this. People interact (usually passively) with their phone, impervious to a neighbor sitting in the next chair. There is no interaction---no contact between two living beings. Oddly, they may even complain about being lonely!
Havel helps me think about salvation of this human world. He assures us this salvation is found nowhere else than in the human heart. That seems so true…so obviously true. It reminds me of the discovery so many of the college students I teach. They discover they are quite smart enough. Intellectually, they have it made. They know a great deal of stuff and they know how to learn. They are good with technology and will only get better. That is seldom a problem.
The problem, they discover, is a heart problem. For example, knowledge comes easily. It is something like love that baffles. Their hearts ache for more. Salvation of this human world will happen in the heart more than in the brain. It will be packaged with love and delivered with justice more than a pay check and status. Salvation work for humans is nothing more than heart-work.
Havel offers a few clues. He suggests salvation is linked to the human power to reflect. I value this ability and know how crucial it is for a contemplative way of living. It is key for a life lived with meaning and purpose. Reflection is not normal for most folks. Too often, we are too busy, too bored, or too distracted to reflect. All of our technological toys eat up the time we might otherwise use to reflect. Reflection is time taken to think about what happened, why it happened and what I might learn from what happened. Reflection leads to depth in life.
The second thing Havel points to is necessary for salvation is meekness. Meekness is a tricky word. It can mean submissive or passive. I am confident this is not what Havel means. I suspect he thinks more about meekness as humility. I know I am concerned with arrogance and egocentric behavior. Those qualities will not bring salvation to this human world. I know Havel had a concern with rampant consumerism. Meek folks do not have this issue. Meekness points to his last point, namely, human responsibility.
No doubt, responsibility is important to me because I spend so much time with students on this issue. In fact, one of the things I tell them is part of my job is helping them become responsible. We live in a world where folks are so quick to claim their rights. Of course, I do believe in human rights. But this can be taken to the extreme---and often is. There are places in the world---even in this country---where human rights are a real, serious issue. But in my little world and the world of most of the folks with whom I associate, our human rights are not at stake.
Rather, the danger we pose to the world is being irresponsible. But we never see it that way. Because I am so well off, I have responsibilities to the world. This begins to get at what saving this human world means. I have responsibilities to share and to care. Caring and sharing are not usually knowledge words. They are human heart words---usually links to action rather than mere thought.
Spending time acting out this kind of heart-life will be my share in saving this human world.
He first came on the scene in my mind when I read about his involvement in the anti-communist movement in the 1970s and 80s. He served multiple stints in prison because of his opposition. In my mind he was a principled person who was standing up for the rights of his fellow citizens. He played a key role in what was called the “Velvet Revolution,” which toppled Communism in 1989. He then served as President of Czechoslovakia. After Slovakia left the alliance with the Czech Republic, Havel served as President of that Republic.
I share this background in order that we might understand the one-line quotation that jumped out to me in my reading. Havel says, “the salvation of this human world lies nowhere else than in the human heart, in the human power to reflect, in human meekness and in human responsibility.” I do think Havel was very interested in the salvation of this human world. It is easy to miss his point. No doubt, many people are attracted to the idea of salvation. In fact, I suspect this would have been the key to religion as I think about the religious upbringing in my family. Most of the people with whom I associated would have claimed they were “saved” or, at least, hoped they were. In my own mind being saved was the ticket to heaven.
While I don’t need to underestimate the importance of that point, I do find agreement with Havel’s concern to save this human world. Although he is now deceased, I think he would agree with my concern for the impersonalization that can be seen in so much of life. Of course, it is easy to blame technology for all of this. People interact (usually passively) with their phone, impervious to a neighbor sitting in the next chair. There is no interaction---no contact between two living beings. Oddly, they may even complain about being lonely!
Havel helps me think about salvation of this human world. He assures us this salvation is found nowhere else than in the human heart. That seems so true…so obviously true. It reminds me of the discovery so many of the college students I teach. They discover they are quite smart enough. Intellectually, they have it made. They know a great deal of stuff and they know how to learn. They are good with technology and will only get better. That is seldom a problem.
The problem, they discover, is a heart problem. For example, knowledge comes easily. It is something like love that baffles. Their hearts ache for more. Salvation of this human world will happen in the heart more than in the brain. It will be packaged with love and delivered with justice more than a pay check and status. Salvation work for humans is nothing more than heart-work.
Havel offers a few clues. He suggests salvation is linked to the human power to reflect. I value this ability and know how crucial it is for a contemplative way of living. It is key for a life lived with meaning and purpose. Reflection is not normal for most folks. Too often, we are too busy, too bored, or too distracted to reflect. All of our technological toys eat up the time we might otherwise use to reflect. Reflection is time taken to think about what happened, why it happened and what I might learn from what happened. Reflection leads to depth in life.
The second thing Havel points to is necessary for salvation is meekness. Meekness is a tricky word. It can mean submissive or passive. I am confident this is not what Havel means. I suspect he thinks more about meekness as humility. I know I am concerned with arrogance and egocentric behavior. Those qualities will not bring salvation to this human world. I know Havel had a concern with rampant consumerism. Meek folks do not have this issue. Meekness points to his last point, namely, human responsibility.
No doubt, responsibility is important to me because I spend so much time with students on this issue. In fact, one of the things I tell them is part of my job is helping them become responsible. We live in a world where folks are so quick to claim their rights. Of course, I do believe in human rights. But this can be taken to the extreme---and often is. There are places in the world---even in this country---where human rights are a real, serious issue. But in my little world and the world of most of the folks with whom I associate, our human rights are not at stake.
Rather, the danger we pose to the world is being irresponsible. But we never see it that way. Because I am so well off, I have responsibilities to the world. This begins to get at what saving this human world means. I have responsibilities to share and to care. Caring and sharing are not usually knowledge words. They are human heart words---usually links to action rather than mere thought.
Spending time acting out this kind of heart-life will be my share in saving this human world.
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