As the world around us changes, sometimes in ways that are troubling, unclear, confusing or even mysterious, people often respond by getting in touch with their deep beliefs.
Another normal human reaction is to try to avoid or escape from uncomfortable, unfamiliar and painful feelings and perceptions.
These two natural reactions, touching base with our core values and dealing with discomfort or pain, can work together to help us in our daily lives and in our understanding about what it means to be citizens and human beings.
We often hear news of sad and tragic circumstances and events. We learn of things that don't seem fair, that don't seem right and are upsetting. Innocent people get hurt or killed. Suffering occurs when it is not necessary.
In the news now, of course, we learn about the deaths of and severe injuries to our troops as well as innocent Iraqi and Afghan civilians.
Decent and honorable Americans often feel pain, sadness and anger about these situations.
To cope with these unpleasant feelings, we might try to look deep inside ourselves to find reasons and justification for this suffering.
In the case of military activities overseas, we might sometimes wonder if valid fundamental motivations justify the death and destruction involved?
Are these efforts based on spreading liberty and human decency?
Are we doing God's work? Is God on our side?
If so, then we might conclude that the pain, deaths, injuries and destruction are justified. If not, the troubling feelings may increase.
Other developments around us, whether they are scientific, political, social or metaphysical, can also cause us discomfort if they are about things we don't fully understand or are anxious about.
PERCEPTION AND MEDIA
In many cases, people seek escapes from these kinds of realities and the feelings they evoke.
The often foolish entertainment in our mass media is not only part of the "dumbing down" of Americans, it also sometimes helps us avoid going deeper within ourselves.
In addition, our human feelings and sensitivity can be muted and numbed by the violence and coarseness we are exposed to in the mass media.
Some media platforms and efforts often appeal to dark aspects of human nature.
At the same time, other media activities and creative works can provide very helpful perspectives that enhance our better nature.
They can provide "intelligence" in the many meanings of that word. We can gain insight about emerging developments that are important.
One example worth looking at is the new HBO series "John from Cincinnati."
This program explores several characters who are experiencing physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual confusion, pain and discovery.
And, in the course of the story, we learn about healing, including very unusual and miraculous healing.
The show also looks at examples of unconventional (or some might say "paranormal") kinds of situations and developments. Things happen in puzzling and unusual ways, confusing ways.
Some of these aspects of the series examine "anomalous cognition," a catch-all phrase for various ESP phenomena, as well as "remote viewing," an intelligence-gathering technique developed and used by U.S. military and intel personnel as well as many other average people.
But the plot of this story does not occur in a faraway time or place. It takes place now, in our everyday reality and among people like those we may know, and in a community that might be somewhat like those we live in.
The show also takes place in a somewhat unique location: San Diego County, where land meets sea and where the southern California beach life meets the Mexican border.
It is also where thousands of United States Marines have been sent off from Camp Pendleton to Iraq and Afghanistan, as they have been to other wars, while the rest of us go about our routine lives. It is where men and women in the U.S. Navy live a life associated with the sea and with a mission.
NUMB AND DUMB
The merging of the mysterious metaphysical with "normal reality" and emotional pain in "John from Cincinnati" might cause some people to ridicule or avoid these elements.
In the case of this show, as in many situations, even when valid insight and intelligence information are provided, some people might prefer to retreat to perceptions that numb and dumb their minds and feelings.
But, if you believe what some of the research in physics and psychology indicates, we are seeing changes in human consciousness that are both new and very ancient.
We might be getting close to a "paradigm shift" when many of our assumptions about "reality" and how things work may change significantly.
This show explores these important factors.
"John from Cincinnati," as well as many other excellent creative works, films, fiction and non-fiction books and writings and other efforts are trying to explore and communicate about these challenges, mysteries, discoveries, indications and implications.
Whether we choose to be open to new understanding about emerging intelligence or not is up to each of us.
However, sometimes things just dawn on us when we least expect them, ready or not.
