Straight Shooter
If I were to do anything
And you looked back at me
If you were to say
I can see that
Then you might just know me
However, if this frightens you
Then you might not just know
The difference between
Possibility and probability
And determined to be free
You may suffer
From certain fears
Whose dread remedy lies
In looking forward
With fears uncertain
As is your hope
And make your choice
Not necessarily
As did I
This poem was inspired by the latest mass shooting in a litany of mass shootings. The angle that struck me is the pressing desire to ascertain the reason. It seems that we may be as afraid of there being a distinct reason as if there is no distinct reason. This seems to be the two sides of the coin of control: that there is control and we are a prisoner of it, and that life is absurd and unpredictable, spurring anxious hypervigilance. Personally, being both an unrepentant idealist and quite aware of my dark side, I can see that I contain the seed of all human behavior, good and bad. I am a straight shooter. Of course, those who know me would also know that I can articulate reasons for most everything I do do. Whatever I do, you could probably say, “Yeah, I can see that.” This simply reflects that seed of possibility contained within us, whether we are aware of it or not. The probability that something happens is a somewhat different matter — perhaps more about matter than meta-matter (physics and metaphysics). Regardless, the quest for control and/or complete understanding of the outside world can never alleviate the need to respond to whatever is with an irreducible amount of uncertainty — whether regarding our fears or our hopes. While the collective behavior of others models a certain way of behaving, I must choose my response without a guarantee of a particular outcome. And while it may seem eminently reasonable to do what is most likely, we are free to pursue a different course; we are not completely bound by probability. Probability is the purview of “science.” Possibility is the purview of the heart, an infinitely more mysterious and fickle state. Science is good at predicting the accuracy of the behavior of crowds (large groups of people, where the veil of statistics masks our individual freedom). Possibility is, well…quite possible. Without uncertainty, possibility would not be possible. So, embracing uncertainty is a good thing…perhaps even necessary!
