Blade Runner

More. Faster. Now. Better.

Think about it: We have all been and continue to be impacted in this age of Dehumanization through Technology. More. Faster. Now. Better.

Think about it: We are over-communicated with. Statistically, each and every day we each are exposed to over 20,000 bits of advertising messages; mail, TV, radio, web banners, cell phone, direct mail, billboards…. More. Faster. Now. Better.

Think about it: Nobody reads anymore! We are living in the On Demand society. The Opt-In-Me-That culture. The USA Today SkimArama runs. The Junk Mail Filers Anonymous syndrome. The Twitter Oh My God When Will Trump Stop.

More. Faster. Now. Better.

Yet…there is evidence of a Re-humanization Movement happening: Small home churches. Coffee shop gatherings, just to talk. Increase in people working with personal coaches and counselors. Dinner at home.

Remember Harry Chapin’s classic song, Cat’s in the Cradle?

Cat’s in the Cradle
“My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talkin’ ‘fore I knew it, and as he grew
He’d say “I’m gonna be like you dad
You know I’m gonna be like you”
And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin’ home dad?
I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then son
You know we’ll have a good time then….”

The song goes on to convey how the son grows up, and when the Dad wants to spend time with him and his family the son now is too busy with all the “things” that have filled up his life:

“…I’ve long since retired, my son’s moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, “I’d like to see you if you don’t mind”
He said, “I’d love to, Dad, if I can find the time
You see my new job’s a hassle and kids have the flu
But it’s sure nice talking to you, Dad
It’s been sure nice talking to you”
And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
He’d grown up just like me
My boy was just like me.
And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin’ home dad?
I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then son
You know we’ll have a good time then.”

Same narrative. Same life.

The point:

Life has a narrative for each of us. Written before time. Our lives are the ink. Some of us a letter, word, phrase, sentence, book. None more important or valuable than others. So, what value is there to speed-reading through the moments we are given.

More? Faster? Now? Better?

What if you were a parenthesis.

parenthesis [puh-ren-thuh-sis], noun

1. either or both of a pair of signs ( ) used in writing to mark off an interjected explanatory or qualifying remark, inserted for emphasis, to indicate separate groupings of symbols in mathematics and symbolic logic, etc.

Ever experienced a moment like this: You are driving with someone down the highway and off to your left a rolling, open field of tall emerald grass. Slender jade fingers bowing to a steady breeze. “Look at that field over there. Isn’t that an amazing picture?” Image acknowledged. Then out of view to mind what’s ahead. Notice one single blade? The one, combined with many ones gathered together? The emerald scratch of light on the landscape?

This is a moment of parenthesis.

Many parentheses—inserted for emphasis—are happening all around.

Less. Slower. Naturally. More.

(b)