The 365 Commitment

Blog 209 – Plutarchs Lives

For three days I’ve been outside of the world of Internet and cell phones. I’ve had no access Due to the remote location I was Staying. I was cut off from instant news and email and text messages. This is not an unfamiliar feelng for me since I spent more than half my life without either one.

It was a relief yes, I felt like I was missing out, at first. But this was soon outweighed by the sense that time was slowed down and my attention was freed from an incessant obligationn to respond. Autonomy is what I felt. I also felt and expansion and attenuation of the space around me as my attention was no longer split and obligated by electronic planes of communication, they just weren’t there anymore.

I found a book on the shelf of the cabin, Plutarchs Lives. Written at the beginning of the 2nd century AD, by the historian Plutarch of course. R.W. Emerson called it thr bible of heroes, because it tells the stories of the lives of the great leaders of Greek and Roman history. He starts with Theseus The founder of Athens. I found this voice (Plutarchs) from 1900 years ago friendly, and his perspective deeply interesting. As he recounted stories already ancient in his time, I was struck by the fact that I experience the same struggle to find meaning and to embody good character as the people Plutarch tells of, and the man himself. Plutarch was not just a historian, he was also a moralist attempting to distill and convey lessons and insights on how to live from his own experience, the life stories of great people, and the spiritual zeitgeist of his time. Simply amazing.

I’m now back in our world. No longer in a remote cabin on a river with no phone or Internet: I’m now plugged back into communication and information channels that staggers the mind. Yet, I’m looking forward to my next retreat with my new friend and tour guide of the ancient and unchanged human experience, Plutarch. Looking forward to the insights and lessons on how to live from ancient wisdom distilled and channeld through his friendly voice, curious to read the lives of people who Accomplished much and seemed to really live.

Reading plutarch feels like I’m reading through a telescope. Reading on the Internet, the information of the day, feels like a microscope.

Ben Wagner(216)

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