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As humans, we are controlled by what is around us,

Subject to the natural world.

The Earth always rotates,

Plants always grow, even when we are not there,

The world always moves on.

But we can control who we are and who we choose to be.

Humanity is complex,

Relying on sacrifices for survival,

Prioritizing our happiness over another’s.

Both consciously and subconsciously we make a choice.

We have chosen to live like those in Omelas,

All choosing to stay.

We are always exposed to new knowledge of the world,

We must search for the real truth,

Differentiate real truth from lies.

We must question what we are told and find out for ourselves.

It may be hidden but it will always find a way out,

Search and you will find.

The absolute truth lies in the open,

Waiting to be acknowledged and understood,

We can never truly escape the reality.

We can deny it, but it never disappears.

It is embedded into everything we see.

There is no escape.

What happens when we are exposed to each truth for the first time?

Do we feel distraught and allow it to consume us as Oedipus did,

Or do we use this knowledge to enhance who we want to be?

In our society, we battle some and ignore others,

But every problem and truth remains.

We see injustices and can work to make a difference.

We have an obligation to humanity,

An obligation to change our perspective,

Work together to change the lives of all,

Choosing to make a difference one change at a time.

Oblivion isn’t the answer.

Greater knowledge forces us to think about our actions.

Thoughts shaped by understanding,

Eventually leading to feelings,

Finally turning into actions.

How can we criticize who we are when we don’t have the knowledge?

We cannot change everything,

The world is not perfect,

But we have the power to try.

Explore what is given to you,

Find a deeper understanding.

Look past what you can see with your eyes and analyze your feelings.

Don’t live a hypocritical life.

Find your truth.

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*SUMMATIVE*
When I first met Bub, I knew he didn’t want me around. He didn’t want the responsibility of taking care of an old blind man. What could he learn from me? He pitied me, but I am the one who feels sorry for him. Although he has sight, he cannot truly see. He takes what he sees for granted and doesn’t understand it. In the dark, we can find truth in what we want to see. We don’t rely on what is given to us. Being blind has forced me to think deeply about connections I make. I focus on a deeper meaning behind words. Those I talk to often combine superficial thoughts with what is said to create ideas of how the world works. The connections I make are different. I cannot see what is in front of me so I don’t have these assumptions. I’m forced to make decisions solely on the observations I can make through other senses. I have learned to embrace this and see it as my advantage. I loved my wife because of who she was, not what she looked like. Although Bub is married, he doesn’t truly know his wife. He likes the superficial idea and doesn’t take the time to know her. I understand her more than he does. When she worked for me, I was even able to feel comfortable touching her face. To me, this is such a personal interaction. I do not ask anyone, only those I feel comfortable with. Over her time with me, our conversations helped me to understand her. By touching her face, I instantly felt a deeper connection with her. She was no longer just a voice, but a physical being in front of me. Through the later tapes that we shared and the stories we told, I have come to know more of the person that she is. My connection with her is strong because I can only listen. I can make other assumptions but the connection is based off what she tells me. Bub is not like me.

When I forced Bub to describe the cathedral to me, he had no idea. As humans, we often don’t have a true and authentic understanding of the world around us. We don’t stop to think about what everything around us means. Being blind forces us to think deeply about what we know to be true. We see a different perspective. Once Bub began to question everything he once knew to be true, he was able to see the world in a different way. He saw the world from a different perspective. You can only achieve this if you are able to look past what is given to you. I do admit that I cannot see part of the world because of my loss of sight, there is knowledge that I will not know, but for those who can see, take time to use your sight to enhance your knowledge but don’t let it limit you. The more we understand and take the steps to increase our knowledge, the better we understand how we interact with the world and those around us. Knowing more is better. If we take what we have for granted and don’t learn more about what is in front of us then what will we gain?