It is easy to understand why our early ancestors decided that Gods ran their world. Because it seemed that somebody from above was always harming them, or as we say in today’s English – “screwing with them.”
Paranoia has been around since the cave men days, and for good reason. They could take nothing for granted; making sure they had fire, weapons, shelter, and food would take up most of the day. Clothing was the first luxury item and I am not talking about great fashion choices.
Living in a nomadic tribe was all about suspicion. After preparing weapons in the morning, the commute would start early with the hunt for food, while fearing attack from other tribes. The trek home was not about avoiding traffic, but concern that their dwellings and families were all still be there. At any time, they had to be ready to hit the road for safety or to find new sources of food. Temperature changes forced seasonal changes of venue as well.
Several tribes of homeless come through the Silver Spring area every year. They hang out in the local shopping centers, and patrol the intersections for income to take care of their basic needs. There was a permanent clan that lived in the woods of the two south exit ramps of the Beltway, that were sent packing when the County or State cut down the underbrush exposing their dwellings. It was meant to keep the deer population from eating the vegetation while roaming the highways and the local neighborhoods, but it exposed their shelters and forced a change of scenery for those folks.
Nothing can be taken for granted. When we start to predict, or depend on something, the Gods can rise-up and change things. Sure, I understand this phenomena can be explained beautifully with Quantum Physics or coincidence, but maybe our early ancestors had it right. By praying to the Gods, they meditated and honored the unknown and feared both the quiet and the noise of nature. They expected the worse and never looked past the next few days. Vacations were invented much later, probably by the Egyptians.
Our civilization has created things to make us feel safe and assured. We have comfortable homes and retirement accounts. We like to follow politics, listen to good music, watch sports, wear comfortable clothes, eat tasty food, discover vacation get-a-ways, plan on living to 100, and enjoy the luxury in our cars. Fearing nature and keeping ourselves alive every day are generally somewhere down that list of concerns, luckily for most of us.
Just in the last four months, the civilized world assumed, that working together was a good thing. Agreements and Treaties were monumental achievements. Trade, travel, health, energy, environment and nuclear arms would be problems to tackle together rather than retreating to our corners of the world. This past few months has changed all that, first with Brexit and now with the Presidential election.
In sports, a 3-1 game lead in the NBA finals for the defending champions, Golden State, who had not lost two games in a row all year, ultimately meant nothing. They lost to Cleveland 4 games to 3. In the NHL, the Caps had the best record in the regular season, by far, and lost in the second round of the playoffs. In the Super Bowl, no team had ever come back from more than a 10 point deficit. Atlanta lost a 25 point lead in the second half to New England.
Did I mention the Cubs won the World Series for the first time since 1908?
Should I even bring up the fiasco at the Oscars?
How about the first 50 days of the new Presidency?
There is no certainty in day to day events. We tempt the Gods every day with our predictions. Remember the 80 degree weather just a few weeks ago, and the lack of winter this year in DC. Sorry!
The unpredictability of predictability is here tonight and tomorrow. Put on your boots and gloves, and get out your shovels – THE SNOW IS COMING !!!!