Civilization

As the new year dawns I find myself reflecting back upon 2016 (a good year for me personally-filled with hard work and growth) and the future that the turn of the calendar page always brings this time of year. I am now 36. A little more than halfway through my three score and ten. It seems a good time in my life to think about what has been accomplished and what might be done with whatever I have left. Several years ago I had the pleasure of reading Stephen Ambrose's Undaunted Courage about the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Meriwether Lewis, a man of many great talents, was also a man prone to the black dog of depression despite all his accomplishments. Upon turning 31, halfway across his epic journey, he noted in his journal,

"This day I completed my thirty first year. I reflected that I had as yet done but little, very little indeed, to further the happiness of the human race, or to advance the information of the succeeding generation. I viewed with regret the many hours I have spent in indolence, and now soarly (sic) feel the want of that information which those hours would have given me had they been judiciously expended...I dash from me the gloomy thought and resolved in future, to redouble my exertions and at least indeavour (sic) to promote those two primary objects of human existence, by giving them the aid of that portion of talents which nature and fortune have bestoed (sic) on me...in future, to live for mankind, as I have heretofore lived for myself." (Ambrose, pg 280)

Whatever those mysterious "two primary objects of human existence" may be (he never edifies us) it is nearly incredible that this comes from the pen of a man who explored the West in 1804 and whose name is today, two hundred and thirteen years later, still synonymous with bold exploration! Yet still, it is a daunting thought to reflect that half of one's life is done with. What should we do with the other half? I'm afraid the answer likely lies in the character of the person asking the question. Certainly, the fact that one may think to ask at all is a good start. From there, the answer likely lies somewhere along the x-axis of capability and fortune and the y-axis of ambition with the area under the curve representing character and effort, assuming a uniform environment of liberty and opportunity.

2017 has boundless opportunity for those willing and able to see through the pessimism of all the Facebook posts and social media hysterics. As an aspiring writer, I say write on! Double entendre intended. As a human being, I beg you to be bold but not fool-hardy; courageous but not head-strong. Dash forward but protect your supply lines. Fortune favors the bold.

Finally, read, read and when in doubt read! New authors and old ones. The dead and the living. All of them have something to say. Even the fools and villains of history teach you what not to do and how not to live. I recently stumbled upon the BBC series Civilization by Kenneth Clark. This spectacular series was aired in 1969 and traces Western European Civilization from the fall of Rome onwards. It's a beautiful tribute to the timelessness and ingenuity of the human race and if you fell asleep in Western Civ but wonder about the Book of Kells, the Church at St. Denis, Thomas Becket, Ravenna, tapestries, Celtic monks, Charles Martel and Poitiers, flying buttresses and all the rest then look no further. A little history gives a lot of perspective. If Peter the Venerable at Cluny and Charlemagne at Aix-la-Chapelle could create such edifices of glory what can we do today? In 2017 we shall see. Perhaps in 2817 men and women will look back and ask similar questions. Good luck and God speed!