Page 65 - My FlipBook

way, as him being untrustworthy. This is ironic because the
truth is they are projecting their own irresponsibility on to him.
In the mind of one who is not intellectually disciplined,
compulsion is often mistaken for trustworthiness because the

origin of the compulsion is not questioned. To question it would
require an unfettered intellect. Instead the selfish mind is
calmed by knowing what another will do. Perhaps this quiets
the anxiety of fearing the unknown. The truth is that those
who rely upon the predictability of others are users and
enablers, because fear of the unknown is only the recognition
that a clear vision would embarrass the self. Most people at
one point or another in their lives choose to remain ignorant
rather than lose their comfortable compulsions. On the other

hand, an unfettered intellect would not need to fear the
unknown, because it would already know that almost
everything is unknown and "knowing" is an illusion. Steve
understood, or at least intuited this and so was able to forgive
others for their mistaken assessments.

The Drunk Monks had a poem in which they discussed these

exact phenomena:

The feeler and the thinker,
joined together are the drinker,
make a pact that they shall keep forevermore.
While the former hits the bars
and the latter charts the stars
they agree on a pragmatic abstract core.

Allan R. Emery 55