To realize the difference between being simple and simplistic.

As we approach this fifth distinction, we have changed arenas. The first four consider how we deal with the world around us, meaning the physical universe and the other humans which make up our environment. The subject of the first four is how we act, either mentally or physically, in our world. If we can act or interact properly, we can approach full humanity. Only approach it.

BEING fully human is a matter of simplicity, creativity, and depth, and there are important distinctions to be made with each of those characteristics. We'll now consider the difference between what is simple and what is simplistic.

An old Shaker song declares, "'Tis a gift to be simple..." Those for whom simplicity is a "given" in life are some of the most fortunate people on earth, in my opinion. Most of us have to struggle long and hard to come to some basic understanding of this most wonderful human quality.

At the beginning, let us agree that simple does not mean retarded, although I have one developmentally disabled friend who is a perfect example of human simplicity. Being able to embrace simplicity in the living of life is not a matter of mental ability, one way or the other; it is a matter of wisdom. And some of the wisest people I know are "retarded."

First, I'll present some quick snapshots of what is simple and what is simplistic. Then I'll point out what I think is the critical difference between the two.

So, here are some simple folks.

GHANDI.

When he died, his whole physical legacy was a pair of glasses and four or five personal articles. While he lived, if there were humans doing bad things to humans, he believed that if he placed himself in the way, it would make a difference.

"BOB."

When Bob was a baby his father threw him against a wall, which he hit head first. As an adult, Bob has the disconcerting trait of considering every person he knows as a human being, worthy of all the benefits of being human, and accountable for all the responsibilities involved. There is nothing more profound than Bob's disappointment when anybody falls short. Bob has been a very good person for me to know.

ELNETA.

For years, Elneta Cooper was the only black member of the church I now serve. She was a teacher of music teachers. Elneta's knowledge of music and singing was formidable, but her philosophy about singing was simple. "There has never been born a person who could not sing, and sing well if they put their mind to it." She proved that philosophy many times.

And here are some typical simplistic profiles. Since a very popular and current simplistic approach is, "Sue the bastard!" I'll refrain from using any names.

LAW AND ORDER.

Two popular simplistic attitudes are repeatedly seen around this issue. The first is that if we toughen up the penalties, hire more enforcers, and build more jails, we'll have law and order soon enough. The second is that if we outlaw all hand guns, and maybe eventually all guns, that will take care of our violent tendencies.

NATION UNDER GOD.

That is my name for the attitude that one's own country is obviously better than all others, is obviously destined to be "top nation," and is accordingly cut more celestial slack in excusing behaviors which are not acceptable in less worthy countries.

GOD SAID IT.

This is the firmly held belief on the part of millions of religious nuts the world over who think that if they can find words in their holy book (the Bible, the Koran, etc.) that sound like their currently held opinion, they have God's backing in the matter. The celestial slack extended to the "nation under God" is provided such god-ordained individuals as well, and as long as they are working for a cause that God has underwritten, there is literally no wrong they can do.

It is not at all uncommon for the simplistic to invoke the highest authority to support the lowest cause. The simple, on the other hand, typically claims no authority for an action or cause, but draws support from it's inherent rightness which is observed by others.

But this distinction, and a host of others which come to mind, merely describes the two. I promised to identify the critical difference between the simple and the simplistic. I'll make that attempt now.

The simple is based upon experience. The simplistic is based upon the exclusion of experience.

In order to be certain I am communicating well, I'll present a few examples of how I see this definition to be operative. Then, we'll have a discussion about how, if this definition has any use for us, it is at the core of all that this study considers.

It may be a little more clear to first see how those attitudes and solutions function which are designed for the purpose of, and are dependent upon, excluding significant chunks of reality.

Looking at the first simplistic example above, Law and Order (a), the reasoning is clear: misbehaving children must be corrected in order for them to learn better. Criminals are society's misbehaving children, and they must be corrected. We're turning so many loose, so many never see a jail, they learn nothing except that crime pays. Build more jails. Don't throw numbers at me (how many jails would have to be built - where? with what money? - these very same folks will not pay more taxes) "Figures don't lie, but liars figure!"

Do you see how any intrusion of facts or meaningful questions will be very upsetting to this stance? Not only is the experience of others (who disagree) unwelcome, but the holder of the simplistic screens his own experience quite severely in order to maintain the position. This screen, incidentally, isn't usually in place universally in the life if the simplistic, just in the simplistic area. Each of us, no matter how rational we usually are, is quite capable of holding a simplistic idea to our heart, protecting it against all logic and experience, and carrying it with us to our grave as excess baggage.

Now, I'm not building a brief on how to solve our society's ills. The positions against the "let's build more jails" solution are often just as simplistic as the one we just looked at.

Law and Order (b) is the idea that if we take away hand guns from private ownership, we'll take a large bite out of crime. That view is just as dependent upon the limiting of facts and experience as Law and Order(a). Not only that, the arguments trotted out by the National Rifle Association to oppose any kind of gun control are about as simplistic as any I have heard.

No one position or party has the corner on simplistic solutions. No one position or party is proof against them. You can hear "debates" on radio or television, or at "informational" meetings in which both sides are glaring examples of the simplistic. You can, I'm afraid, search a long time before finding examples of the simple.

THE SIMPLE

What to look for? Here's a short list. -Less hype, more calmness.
-No arguing, just stating or, at most, explaining a position.
-No scapegoating, but personal assumption of responsibility.
-No rejection of experience, but acceptance of all experience.

The last item, of course, is the key. And note, that which is accepted readily by the simple is experience, not theories, lies or opinions.

SAINT MAYBEL. Let me introduce you to this wonderful woman. She never met a person she couldn't love. There were some she didn't like at all, but her ability to detect that vital something within each human she met which was the eternal, allowed her to love. It also called forth the best from some "real scalawags," too. In order to love, did she have to "overlook" certain characteristics or behaviors? No, she saw them quite clearly. Her perception was just not limited to those negative things. She loved the other parts.

You might ask, "What about Hitler? What about Charles Manson?" She never met those guys. And she didn't claim to love them either. How could she? SHE NEVER MET THEM!

And that is the key to this whole discussion. If we base those tenets by which we live our lives on that which we have ourselves experienced, rather than on theories, creeds, or popular opinions, we will more quickly embrace the simple and be more proof against the simplistic.

We will have begun to approach the minimum requirements to being truly human. The first four discernments all deal with different aspects of how we process our own experiences. When we have understood and integrated them into our lives, we will be inclined toward simplicity.

Introduction, Ch. 1. What is Reality?, Ch. 2. Knowledge and belief., Ch. 3. What is being open- minded?, Ch. 4. Prudence and prejudice., Ch. 5. Simple and simplistic., Ch. 6. Creative and coercive., Ch. 7. Silence and absence

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