On Spaceship Earth

By Georgie Bright Kunkel

Recently I visualized being a baby passenger landing on spaceship earth. Imagine a newborn coming to this world with no way of going back to the place of origin. A new baby cannot pick its birth parents.

How many young people have said to their own parents, "I didn't ask to be born." However, the baby has a mind and body that can usually survive in the world it is confined to as long as it has nurturing caregivers for the first few years. There are limited choices which give a child some control over its future destiny.

A young child learns that to offer love and trust can be a risk sometimes. Later comes the realization that everyone eventually dies. Through the awareness of life's rough spots a human being can accumulate beliefs that help to ease the pain and uncertainty of making life choices. Learning to network with others who have more wisdom and knowledge is helpful to this process.

Each person, hopefully, learns to respect the beliefs of others. Recently my two-year-old great grandson slapped a cousin who dared to grab his toys. But hopefully he will soon develop a natural empathy, sensing the sorrow or anger of another. Cultural learnings are imposed on instinct and experience making it possible for the child to function in the larger community outside the home.

Many believe that our time on earth is all there is. That is why there are activists like the Raging Grannies who want to make life on earth better for everyone living here together. Others may trust that whatever happens is fate and they bear everything because they think it is all predestined and cannot be changed. Still others put faith in some power outside themselves and pray that this power will keep them safe.

There are many ways to face the challenges, sorrows and hurts of this world in order to live the most fulfilling life possible. Whatever each person's faith, each one of us can learn to be understanding of all the others who are living on this spaceship earth. It hasn't happened yet, right? But with early education for getting along, it may someday be possible. Oldsters may even learn to change their ways for the better. I'm still trying to figure out what human relationships work and what ones don't.

Recently a very dear niece of mine died after living long enough to participate in her own end of life decision. On the same day I found that someone whom I had learned to love and appreciate was harboring angry feelings toward me. Hopefully we can learn to let positive memories of those who have died and those with whom we have conflict salve the hurt of death and discord.

If this sounds like a graduation speech, then so be it. With so many young people going out into the world this year to find their way - a world not always nurturing or understanding - it will take experience, patience and perseverance to find the happiness and contentment that the new graduates want for themselves.

Good luck to all of you who are reaching out to find your future. Remember that your family and your true friends are standing by as you spread your wings.

Georgie Bright Kunkel is a freelance writer and speaker who can be reached at gnkunkel@comcast.net or 206-935-8663.