There are no prescriptive solutions, no grand designs for grand problems. Life's solutions lie in the minute particulars involving more and more individual people daring to create their own life and art, daring to listen to the voice within their deepest, original nature, and deeper still, the voice within the earth.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes that solutions to life's challenges are found in individual expression and personal authenticity.
Stephen Nachmanovitch articulates the idea that there are no one-size-fits-all answers to life's complex problems. Instead, he suggests that each person must engage with their unique experiences and inner voice, reflecting their true nature and connection to the world. The journey towards personal and artistic fulfillment is not dictated by external standards but inspired by individual creativity and the inherent wisdom found in nature.
In practice
In a motivational speech, one could use this quote to inspire individuals to pursue their passions.
Every moment a taste of that beauty in our mouths, another stashed in a pocket. Impossible to say what: no cypress so handsome, no sunlight, a lonely hiddenness. Other pleasure gathers a crowd, starts a fight, lots of noise there. But soul beauty stays quiet..his amazing whereabouts unknown inside my heart.
The man who only loves beautiful things is dreaming, whereas the man who knows absolute beauty is wide awake.
The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
We all suffer alone in the real world. True empathy's impossible. But if a piece of fiction can alow us imaginatively to identify with a character's pain, we might then also more easily conceive of others identifying with their own. This is nourishing, redemptive; we become less alone inside. It might just be that simple.
Although nature commences with reason and ends in experience it is necessary for us to do the opposite, that is to commence with experience and from this to proceed to investigate the reason.
We profess to be strangers and pilgrims, seeking after a country of our own, yet we settle down in the most un-stranger-like fashion, exactly as if we were quite at home and meant to stay as long as we could. I don't wonder apostolic miracles have died. Apostolic living certainly has.
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