Thriving on destruction

We live by destruction. We cannot do otherwise, for our lives are based on making use of all that surrounds us. (This may come as a surprise, but I am going to draw from Merton without actually quoting from him; my thoughts upon this subject are almost entirely my own! Though they do spring from his thoughts upon farming, bomb testing and war; a connection that I made in order to arrive at the topic of destruction.) Destruction is the human motto, the modus operandi, the way of the world. To play we destroy. To eat we destroy. To make art we destroy one form and fashion it into another; destruction is nevertheless involved. To shovel snow we destroy what nature created! War is the zenith of destruction, a method and a means without an end. Life is destroyed, resources are destroyed, good will is destroyed, faith and decency both destroyed; we are left with rubble and a false sense of peace and security, which we consequently destroy as well.

Missionaries destroy, bankers destroy, construction workers destroy, teachers destroy, pacifists destroy; all is destruction. (This is beginning to sound like Ecclesiastes….) Even if a man were to lay entirely still his whole life, he would still begin to wear down and destroy that upon which he lay.

To go a step further: Not only do humans destroy, but animals destroy, nature destroys itself by its own means of preservation. What is preservation but another sort of destruction?

If destruction is such a part of our lives as to be inevitable, then what hope have we of breaking free, of becoming restorers rather than destroyers? I think that must be the key: Restoration, preservation, are as much destruction as anything else, but they are of another sort. We must choose how we shall destroy: If by rebuilding, rekindling hope in acts of mercy, patience and kindness, then perhaps it is a necessary destruction.

I’m not sure where I wanted to go when I started, but I’ve arrived somewhere. It’s an interesting idea, one that deserves more thought than I have given it thus far. There is much more to be said---perhaps a reader or two would like to take this opportunity?

Comments

[caro]

First, it's interesting that you mention missionaries as a destructive force but that's exactly what they are whether they realize it or not and no matter the motive.

Second, is destruction not one extreme side of the story though? Let me try to clarify my initial thought upon reading this. I instantly related this destruction business to the half-empty vs. half-full debate -- negative perspective vs. positive. I don't know what the other side of destruction might be but it certainly seems to be the negative perspective. I hope that makes some sense . . .

[April]

Thanks for the comment, Caro! I guess the negative side of things came across pretty strongly, huh? I wasn't really trying to make it seem that way---I was mostly just exploring an idea I had never before considered. I guess destruction in this way could be compared to time: it always passes and we're always "losing" moments, days, years. But that's not a bad things; it's just the way things are. And in the process, a lot is gained and collected from all the time we experience. Similarly, through destruction we gain and collect... (I'm not sure what). Maybe it's just the fact that I used the word "destruction" (with all its negative connotations) that makes it all seem negative. More thoughts?

[Outer Life]

You stop just short of acknowledging that just as "all is destruction," all of us destroyers will, ultimately, be destroyed as well. I am using "destroy" to mean "put an end to the existence of." It's axiomatic that what gets created on this world gets destroyed. Sounds depressing, but it's a vital part of life. Nothing is forever; always is a lie.

[a d a m]

And the question must be “Is Destruction bad?” For when God created the Earth out of nothing [ex nihilo], did God not destroy the nothing? When God created light, was the darkness not destroyed? For myself, I would rather experience the Light, than the Darkness. So, the process of destruction brought about that which was better [though some would argue that darkness is more enjoyable].

We have been created as Destroyers – as we live, eat, build homes, enjoy recreation – we are always destructing that which has been created. Yet again, we have to ask, is destruction bad? Is destruction without a purpose bad? For when the young child disrupts the sand’s sleep on the beach, and fills buckets with sand for sand castles, can we call the child an evil destroyer? Is not her action of destruction aimed at a greater purpose [eh, analogy could be better, but...]?

So, what then? I, like April, don’t know where I am going with this. We are destined to destroy [and as OuterLife wrote, to be destroyed ourselves] – so must the question be “How Then Must We Destroy?” Is there an appropriate way, as stewards, to destroy? Can we, by destroying, actually bring life?