The Same Evolutionary Cycle, 2000 Years Later

** Need I say, "this is my story and I will tell it the way I want to?"... Well, it is C;P **

The feast and famine cycle is a very powerful engine that drives growth and evolution. During times of feast, when resources are plentiful, individuals are free to play and experiment. In times of feast it is the strongest and most daring who prosper and almost everyone succeeds. Feasts are earmarked by great exploration and experimentation. In times of famine however, it is the stealthy efficient that are the most effective; survivors of famine are a humble lot who have learned that it is better to stay out of the limelight... and out of any fight. The most chaotic and telling period of evolution is in the segue from feast to famine, when so many individuals who have become comfortable with the behaviors that are tolerated in a lush environment try to make them work in a weak environment.

The Romans usurped Judea at about 63 BC, but the Jews didn't really begin rebelling until after the start of the new era (AD). Why the wait? Well, because the Romans brought a feast with them. They built aqueducts, and road, and walls, and hired many people to build these things, and had soldiers to cut back on crime, and administrators to keep things in order. So, I have to believe that for the average Jew times got quite a bit better when the Romans showed up... so much so, that they didn't seem to mind all the changes (they even, like most people do when times get good, relaxed their religious observations to the point where they didn't mind the Romans using the Great Temple for business and sacrifice). But, those civil engineering project couldn't last forever... and... well... the taxes stayed, but the income slowly disappeared. And, as is typical in the segue from feast to famine, most people looked to blame to solve their problems instead of making the shift in their own perspectives. When times return to famine the average person returns to religion and this can be dangerous when mixed with blame; the religion gets distorted to accommodate the blame. (Then some poor fella gets himself crucified trying to tell everyone that there is no one to blame and the best thing to do is see things with an open mind and open heart.)

Here in America, since WWII, we have been experiencing an economic boom that has made us all look the other way to things we knew were happening in our name and on our land. But, as we all know, the taxes are staying and the wages are slowly going away. Corporations are to America what Rome was to Judea. We are seeing more and more bluster as people use the loud arrogance of strength to confront the problems of famine. And, we all know that this approach will only make the famine worse. We see more and more people returning to one religion or another and adapting it to fit their frustration and blame. And, we all know that this will only make the famine worse. There is no one to blame for where we are today... it is nothing more than what it is. At very least we are all to blame for enjoying ourselves too much during the feast. Hear comes the hangover C:D, and the best way to deal with famine is shifting our perspective to quiet humility in the pursuit of efficiency... with open eyes, an open mind, and an open heart.

... and be very careful what you weaponize; but more on that tomorrow.

C:)