The Fly and I: Answer to the Riddle of Immortality?
This time of year flies rule. Suddenly, only primitive, animal instincts prevail and it's every animal for itself. At stake is the survival of the fittest and perhaps a glint into rules of the Afterlife.
They say that for every task done, and skill acquired, a person accumulates the tools needed to attain earthly bliss, or at least their version of it.
It's like the aboriginal theory: that for every plant or animal in nature that can do the body harm, there is a cure or antidote within walking distance-part of God's architecture, I guess.
For us mere humans, the trick is to figure out what tools we have gained and where, how and when to apply them. It is one of many cosmic riddles created by a God with a desire to always keep us on our toes, growing, learning and humble through it all. And, perhaps, a God who has a cosmic sense of humor, even though most times we miss the punch-line.
God created flies because...
There is no more direct consequence of cosmic humility than at this time of year when we mere humans feel powerless over an environment that flies deem to rule.
Of course the fly is oblivious to all the commotion it creates. Its' singular focus strains on the one programmed biological mission born to fulfill. None of the millions of flies invading each neighborhood has any real intention to effect world domination or, try to collapse western capitalism or, any other such deep-rooted conspiracies to destroy humanity and rule the planet. Flies could, however, be chalked up as some kind of cosmic punishment for the many errors of our human ways but, I will leave that discussion to others with more expertise on that topic.
No, the rule of the fly is really all just about sex. (Notice I didn't use the S-word' in my title, thus reducing my searches' by three-thousand percent!)
I read somewhere: " there are only two universal intellections in this world that bind the common experience: First, people everywhere are always the same; some good, some bad, but all have their deep rationales of why. The second is, that wherever you travel in this world, sooner or later you are going to encounter the annoyances of flies and mosquitoes. Those are the only two absolutes no longer arguable. Everything else in the world is still in flux and open to interpretation."
I think I agree. Any ways, whatever worldly superiority we as humans might claim, the reality of our smallness is bound to surface during Fly-Season.
Who are we? Are we the sum of the embodiments of those skills and talents the 'Man' deals and whatever feeble outcomes those gifts bring forth or, something like that?
Naw, that all seems too complicated and too controversial.
Maybe who we are, at the end of the day, is defined by only a handful of simple skills which we perfect; skills that makes us unique from any others. I like such a notion because of its simplicity and the fact that I may be covered, thanks to that pesky fly.
I call this dynamic, The (Three) Skills that Answers the Riddle of the Universe, SARU for short; sort of like the three tasks of the Hero's Adventure to reach the quest for Treasures and the Elixir therein. For me, I think I am prepared with my SARUs (Although, every time I think such things I am usually in big trouble!).
It is that simple fly that helped me attain one of my SARUs. If anyone decides to read this article, and asks, I might write about my other two in the future. If it goes unread, I understand.
I am a humble man these days. With that said, it is not easy to admit, sounding prideful and all, that with fly-swatter in hand, I rarely miss. And, if I do miss I know why.
I have not yet tried chopsticks but I often can connect swatter/fly in midair. Such a skill has taken more than a half century to master. It is the accumulation of many trials, tribulations and miscellaneous earthly experiences folded together into an action that can be executed in one-eighth of a second or, about three to four, blurred frames of moving video.
This Skill all comes down to the mastery of two spheres of disciples built upon a solid foundation of worldly woes. These disciplines are: Mental Focus (through meditation) and Physical Disciplines mastering the triad of Power, Speed and Accuracy (through years of Martial Arts training).
When all these disciplines are orchestrated together in mind and body, the fly dies, if one detail of the discipline is out of tune, the fly flies!
SARUs are unique to every individual. I have a theory that such Skills might be of extreme value in transition to the Afterlife so, you might want to consider the notion-it goes something like this:
At the End of it All, we stand at the gate of eternity, in a long line (of course, but who cares about time?). Finally a white robed figure looks up from his long list and asks, "What are your Three Skills?" (Notice they don't ask your name-I guess they know it!)
Your first thought is to give your personal or professional credentials, "I was a Parent, a Teacher, a Doctor, a Lawyer (God help you), etc." The robed figure looks up without expression, as if you didn't understand the question. He doesn't ask again, he only stares. If you can't answer correctly you have to go back to the end of the line and think about it, wait, and think about some more. Sometimes it may take thousands of years for a soul to figure the riddle and give the correct response.
During the wait you reflect on your life...eventually you figure it all out. Those Three Skills are those things done to absolute perfection, no sorta-kindas here. Each skill is the culmination of everything you are, everything you have learned, put together in a complete package of what you can do with it.
Example of acceptable responses: "One of My skills is Flipping Pancakes." Then you will get a nod from the white-robed one and sent over to that celestial kitchen to prove it. If you pass you get to claim your next skill. "I can throw a peanut ten feet in the air and catch it with my open mouth without ever dropping a one." You are then sent over to a table with a large jar of peanuts and must prove your claim. Or, "I can play "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" on my throat." You get the idea.
Warning: claiming to make a Perfect Pot of Chili may get you eternally disqualified!
It forces each soul, here on earth, to focus on the little things we have to enjoy in our life which pleasures us most; things done not for fame and fortune. They seem like simple, mundane skills but attached to them is our answer to the riddle of the universe. The larger things in life which we think are most important might be inconsequential in the grand scheme of things. Its function may be only to convince ourselves, erroneously, we are in control.
We come into this world naked and we leave naked but in between we toil to realize our Three Earthly Skills and, to enjoy the company of each other.
With all the educational degrees one may possess, career achievements attained and host of a range of talents, everyone's natural skill-sets can...
...Wait a second (buzzzzz) Whack! Got em.