We Know Everything

"We've got everything down to a science, so I guess we know everything

We know everything
We know everything

We know everything was built to expire, so I guess we've done everything"
~ Modest Mouse ~

"We've Got Everything" from We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank

As always with lyrics and art, you never know what was truly in the mind of the artist when he penned his words or lifted her brush. It's something you just try to decipher or you simply apply what you conjure to what they created. It is the true magic of art, of creation - it can hold meanings deep and wide, or it can simply be a catchy tune, a beautiful decoration. I quoted Modest Mouse above because I think I know what they are saying. I think I at least know what I hear them saying in this catchy refrain. And, it is something I have been contemplating the past couple of days.

Isn't it just like us, we desperately-grasping humans? We get everything down to a scientific explanation, then we back off. Why? Because then we know it. I mean we really know it. Isn't that exactly what we were taught? Find the answer, then be done with it. Find the law of thermodynamics, memorize it, then forget about it because now you know. It's a Western European idea of Enlightenment and Industrialization. "We can discover all there is in the universe, and then we can build a machine to manipulate it and do the work for us." That truly is a familiar refrain in our society, even if we don't say those very words. Or we take up the new banner of truth today - we know it is all destined for the dirt-nap, so why do anything more?

I do it. I put everything in a schedule, in its right place, then life is okay - it is tolerable. And, most importantly, I can control it. That's it, isn't it? The conundrum of our existence - control? We want it, we need it, we will do anything to have it. That includes self-delusion and the deception of reason & logic. Reason & Logic are in fact the bedrock foundations of our society and for most, our very lives. Not that we use pure reason, no that is part of the problem. We twist it to meet our needs. We even do that it scientific circles, using only data that supports our claims; ignoring the research and ever-expanding findings of others. We do it in relationships - reasoning away what you do to others, or even reasoning the abuse of others toward you. Logic says that if not this, then that - black or white - right or wrong. If you are here, you are not there. But somewhere in my coping mind, a deeper Truth seems to be peeking through.

But before that Truth bangs out of my head, often times I answer with my generation: "who really cares?" I mean, it's all "set to expire", so what does it mean anyway. This is a convenient purpose for apathy, for inaction, for cynicism. It is the tonic that takes away our fear of losing control, of living in a world we don't really understand. Our generation has figured out many of the old lies, and we have seen that we don't know it all, but our response is in two directions: the first seems to be a return to the temples of Reason & Logic. Or, the second is to adopt an unbreakable philosophy of "who cares...we'll never know anything...just do what you want." Both are devastating, and I can give testimony.

Reason & Logic should never be the pillars, though surely they are needed. Instead, Grace should be the foundation. Grace pushes us to experience more, to be "out there, and loving it". It makes us see that there is more to this world than meets the eye, and just when we think we have it all down, Grace shows us something or someone more. Grace is ensconced by faith, hope, and love. And I submit a profound element of all of these is Mystery. Because guess what kids, we don't have it all figured out. We don't have it all down to a science that is infallible. I mean, gravity is only a theory. Quantum mechanics threw a wrench in all that we knew of physics. Evolution is only a theory, and happens to have as many holes as the best swiss cheese. (Oh and by the way, so does intelligent design theory.) And on a personal level, we think we have it all figured out and planned, then life & environment step in. Friends are paralyzed for life, family members have cancer, your job disappears into the abyss of economy, and your best friend dies suddenly, tragically. But this is not a pity party, this is just an eye opener...we can get everything down to a science. And if we do, we will stifle all that is good in life as our findings will be proved wrong and our controlled experiments will be failed by an unthinkable variant.

And if you adopt the attitude of expiration, you will miss life too. If all you see is death and apathy, you will miss the entire boat of life's enjoyment. Reason, logic, and an understanding of our finite position are all good things, but they can't be the driving force. Discovery, creation, exploring, loving, giving - those are the forces that should drive our life. Fatalism & cynicism will only choke the sometimes minute, but oh-so-good that can be found in a world of pain.

The point is, we don't know it all, and we don't need to. Whatever modicum of control we think we have, is "just blowin' in the wind". And our knowledge of the fragility of life, and our Reason & Logic, they will never provide the peace we desire. But the answer is simply surrender. It takes a lot of guts to do (and I can't do it very well at all), but I know it is the only way. It's admitting we don't know everything. Now listen, the religious will tell you all of this surrender business as well, but then they will direct you to their by-laws and their litanies of control - and yet another institution will bow you to its altar, just like science, Reason & Logic. But there is One who is bigger than us in charge of it all, and He is even outside of it all. We won't quantify Father - we won't even box Him in with theologies & dogma, biblical science. I AM has no definition within finite terms.

So the next time we think we know everything and we grasp to control the corner slice of life that we were served, we must remember - He is the one doing the cooking here. Abba chuckles as we discover His creation, and weeps when we stop trying to find more of Him. And I have found, He is frustrated even more by our wish to control, our need to play the obstinate, independent child. Trust me, I do it more than any other. So despite all of our science, Reason & Logic, pseudo-controls, and knowledge of how it all ends, Grace still abounds and Mystery truly rules the day.

Begrudgingly, Father is the only one who has got everything down to a science.
And I guess He knows everything.

The Dark Knight Lives

AH YES!! Finally, a movie to be excited about this summer, and for good reason. If you haven't seen it yet, you must...The Dark Knight is amazing. One of the best films I have seen in quite some time (with respect to No Country For Old Men). (Notice I said "films", not movies - this is more than just an entertaining popcorn movie.) I say finally, because finally, someone has nailed the Dark Knight, the Batman of the comic world. Batman Begins was, in my opinion, the best comic book movie ever - but now, it has been upset by its very own sequel. Christopher Nolan is a masterful director (see Memento or Insomnia), but more importantly, he and his brother (Jonathan) are even better storytellers. They did not ruin the dark tales of the graphic novels by making it happy or goofy, and they kept the mood intense and realistic. As one review put it, this was a crime film (ie, Heat, The Deaprted, etc.) that just happened to be placed in the world of Batman. Also, they kept out the extreme CGI - my heroes! I am so tired of CGI at this point, I could puke. Yeah, I know there is a little in there (including one side of the coin), but overall, they avoided it and kept it real by doing so. Harvey Dent was perfectly cast, and again Bruce, Alfred, & Fox continued their perfection in the roles. The camera work, lighting, and set design continued the real world feel of the first flick. And the subtle messages regarding terror, human morality and violence were communicated wonderfully.

But with all of that said, there is one more reason for the legit hype...The Joker.

The Joker is as he has always been in the comics - purely evil, maniacal, unkillable, unpredictable, socio-pathic bliss - and my favorite. The opening scene (a spectacular robbery), sets his stage and The Joker delivers. Within thirty minutes of the film, I knew he was the greatest movie villain of all time (with respect to Vader & Lecter). And no, this is not hype because of Heath Ledger's death. Quite the contrary for me - I never really liked most of his movies. But he is unrecognizable in this role. His voices, his laugh, his ticks, his movements - perfect Joker. The character probably bothers some & makes them nervously uncomfortable; but for me, it is the best that has ever been played. Jack Nicholson should cry over his pathetic attempt by comparison. My favorite scenes in The Dark Knight all include The Joker, and most are because of him. Just as example, the tape of him in the meat locker with a Batman wannabe - absolutely bone-chilling voice changes - ridiculously eerie. Wow, if only he could revise this role in the near future...so sad. What a talent he showed himself to be.

So, if you have time, go see it. Go see it twice like Ashley and I. Go see The Dark Knight wherever and whenever. It is well worth it. Now I just can't wait to see what Nolan pulls out of his hat for the next installment...I am hopeful it will be superb.