At this university, we have a club for absolutely anything you can imagine. Some of them are pretty sweet. If I knew how to knit I would definitely join “The Respectable Knitting Society.” It’s not even that I am taking askance at any club in particular. I have, however, noticed the unfortunate fragmentation that does occur between people at this campus as a result.
Each person, dedicated to their personal pet cause, seem distant and unconnected from one another. There is a division of causes and meanings. It is so easy to become truncated from other people and lose sight of the significant pursuits of others.
Now, should you be passionate about something? Absolutely. Is that something going to be different from person to person? Absolutely. It would be tragic if everyone didn’t care about something truly personal and significant to them. However, it is important not become myopic in the pursuit of that cause. There are two dangers here.
The first is to pursue that cause at the exclusion of other important things in life. Sometimes I can’t help but think that any cause or mission that explains everything is a religion. People here at college seem to worship the environment, social justice, sustainability, community, and the pursuit of pleasure. These things, however well or ill defined, are the criteria by which all other things are measured. They are not bad in and of themselves, but when treated as the end-all and be-all of a meaningful existence, they become disproportionately large. Having a purpose and cause is important. You just have to be careful you don’t start to worship it.
The second danger is to pursue that cause, as previously mentioned, to the exclusion of recognizing the value and validity of what other people are doing. It’s very unfortunate if you become too self-absorbed to notice that other people are working, caring, and suffering just like you.
You should absolutely dedicate yourself to different things. You should absolutely pursue your passions and causes. But however important these things may be, it is vital not to become consumed by them. Have you every met someone so totally consumed by their cause that they don’t know how to interact with anyone except by trying to sell purpose to you? I can certainly think of other instances where people seem to count me as a potential supporter to be consumed in their cause, rather than someone with whom to actually engage.
Rather than selling to me, engage with me. Only in a community of people can we transcend the fragmentation of personal projects and pet causes into a meaningful and significant life … not a myopic tunnel-vision of personal agendas.