Surviving The Fall, 44

I wonder if Introversion is a default mode. If that becomes the category or waste bin for those who don't cope well socially, the rejects bin, so to speak. I often noticed this in school. They were the jocks, the cool kids and the rock stars, and they were always hosting parties or getting invited to parties and they were all the popular and best-liked in the school. They were also (surprise, surprise!) the best looking, best dressed, strongest, healthiest and most competitive. If Darwin is to be taken by the letter, which is the tendency of fundamentalist scientists and atheists, then that is simply natural selection in motion. The survival of the fittest, and since those are the same kids more likely to get laid, naturally they get to pass on their genes (or there but for the grace of Trojan and birth control pills go you and I). Their time was so fully taken up by sports, concerts, parties and sleepovers and whatever, that with all that togetherness and the angst involved into getting into university and mapping out your professional life, no one could possibly have time to acquire or develop an inner life, nor even have the remotest idea of what an inner life is, nor even that such an experience and perception of things could ever possibly exist. In fact, to leave any one of those little darlings on her own for more than half an hour, without a smart phone, without anyone to distract him, would probably meet the UN 's definition of torture or cruel and unusual punishment. She would implode, he would need to be put on medication and need complete and prolonged community psychiatric care, fast. Then there are the nerds, the geeks, the misfits and loners. Probably maybe one or two genuinely don't like to be around people, and might even live somewhere on the autism-Asperger's spectrum. The others? They are not good-looking enough, or butt-ugly, or as in my case they are Jesus freaks or practice a strange religion, or they are just socially dyslexic, or as in my case they are living in dysfunctional and abusive family situations, or are highly sensitive or really bright and gifted so that the other kids either can't relate to them or are so put off and envious that they will do anything in their power in order to make to keep our lives miserable. This isn't to say that some people aren't naturally disposed to being less social, as there is quite a spectrum to our human natures. Neither do I believe that natural introverts are necessarily antisocial. But this is what is wrong with the language we are stuck with here. We tend to think in useless binaries. We are a social species, one of the most social species on the planet. Our survival depends completely on the collective, without which we each become so weak, impoverished and vulnerable that we literally perish. Does anyone ever notice young people, be they children, adolescents or twenty-somethings when they are in groups out in public. They are noisy, bold, brash, sometimes reckless, often obnoxious, rude and at times intolerable. They rule the world. Now, what will happen if you separate one on those little mouth-breathers from their protective herd. That's right. Watch how fast the little snowflake melts into a useless little drip. The poor little darling, without the protection and backing of their collective self of friends and gang members is suddenly shy, scared, frightened, and looks like they have just done dookie in their designer knickers. But, Gentle Reader, in a way, we are all like that. Then there are those who are naturally inclined, not really towards solitude, but having and celebrating an inner life. We aren't in a hurry to be liked or to make friends. It isn't that we don't like people, but often are so attuned to other realities, and a lot of us are artists, writers and poets, but we really do not deal in the same currency as the regular and popular folk, but for the slim chance of becoming famous, and rich from our talents, and then we become the trend setters and we become the gods and goddesses of the common rabble's desiring. Doesn't happen too often, and usually it is those who are already well-connected, and having a particularly ruthless streak is going to be an asset. In the meantime, I have opted to embrace my inner silence and to continue to live at the rhythm of the spirit. It doesn't make me rich or popular, but it certainly teaches me to be a good friend as I seek to find and touch Christ in each person on my path. This has nothing to do with introversion or extroversion and everything to do with taking the time to acquire a vision for your life and the world that you live in and then living true to this vision. If we have enough people actually doing this, then maybe we just will survive the coming challenges.