I have always felt its vector. Have had a subtle sensation of its singular yet collective tug. I rely on it for my daily confidence in society (law makers, bureaucrats, movie makers, newspaper editors, writers, judges, politicians, artists, directors, editors, producers, bloggers, scientists, teachers) but fear for it too!
I recognize how fragile it is. Marcus Aurelius’s character in Ridley Scott’s movie ‘Gladiator’ spoke of Rome as I would of this gentle ‘geist’ – “There was once a dream that was Rome. You could only whisper it. Anything more than a whisper and it would vanish.”
It is the first mild drops of rain that falls on the drought-bitten wrinkles of soil. It is the flicker of a soft burning candle that warms and lights things around it. It is a mellow fragrance that spreads from the few gentle flowers amidst the throng. But, just as easily, a gust of hot boorish wind can blow it all away! Then our cumulative noses fill with the stench of stagnancy, non-growth, non-change or in worst cases, the stench of regressive devolution.
Many were the storms in history that have vexed this spirit; set us back years, decades and even centuries. But the groundswell cannot be subdued. The rate (not state, but rate) of change toward progress will see setbacks within a single lifetime but humanity has benefited from the positive slope over cycles of ups and downs, troughs and crests through the generations. We are fortunate to catch glimpses of this betterment around us in what we now assume is ‘normal’ yet bemoan its lack in aspects where it is yet to make its mark.
The second law of thermodynamics might suggest entropy within a closed physical system but we shouldn’t discount the information energy of awareness within organized sentient beings. This energy pulses towards progress and depending on luck and other contrary energies, these either succeed or fail. Successes put stigma like slavery, homophobia and misogyny behind us. Failures keep stains like animal cruelty, child soldiers and even racism alive and well among us.
If I cannot be one myself, the least I can do is claim to be guardian of any of these gentle flames in the dark that bring light to us all!
My 2 cents 