Delusion and grace

A human being is a part of the whole, called by us 'Universe,' a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest - a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.
-- Albert Einstein

Albert, did you leave us a theorem, a formula, an equation for solving the mystery of compassion? A theology professor once told me knowledge changed behavior, using the example of grass. Ever since he learned how slowly a patch of grass regains vitality after feet press it to the ground, he could not bring himself to cut freestyle across the quad. He was a principled man, more disciplined than I or most mortals. I know or can know in a key stroke how many babies die of AIDs or malaria in the time it takes to finish this sentence...

This is the kind of discussion that makes you twitch and turn the radio to a happy song in a major key. It's more fun to enjoy life than embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty, right?

Unless you choose to explore your world. Yes, one of the most self indulgent vices turns out to be the most humane. Real art, the kind where delving is second nature and honesty can't help itself, sets you on a course of no return. At first you find out the accumulation of stuff holds no allure, except for the materials of creation. Then you notice you have nothing to say in pleasant conversations about the us and the them. You lose your ability to interpret that language. Gradually you rearrange your work and play to cram so much creativity into the horn, priorities shift. And finally? I don't know the finally, I only know I have fewer boastful, envious, competitive reactions to life when I'm bringing new songs into the world. I can't say why, but I do know this is taking me toward a wider embrace of the people, the nature of my planet.

Albert's not here to advise or dissent. Except in the artist sensibility of his bequest.