In the course of the philosophy discussion of this week, the alternative viewpoints, of freedom or of determinism came up.  This durable topic surfaces often with us.  How free are we?   Are we as free as we feel, as free as we were taught as Americans, a culture with a heritage of Enlightenment values?   Our founding document, The Declaration of Independence is proclamation of political emancipation from King George, the ruler of the super-power of that day. “Freedom” is in American DNA.  On the other hand, it is not as if I, or most of my ancestors chose to be born here.  It stands to reason that someone at some lost past time, chose or thought they were choosing to come to the “new world.”  Could they have been an indentured servant?  In that case, the choice was hardly free.  I find myself here along with nearly everyone else; “thrown into the world,” as Sartre wrote.

This morning I traveled for a followup visit with my Doctor, the conclusion of a minor surgical procedure.  As I was in Mundelein, I decided to stop by the Starbucks where in more normal seasons, I spent time every morning, seven days a week attempting to write.  I ordered my coffee for carry out, and due to the good fortune of timing I greeted the store manager, who happened to be present.  I consider her a friend.  Several Baristas behind the counter were old acquaintances as well.  Due to the severity of the pandemic no seating is available inside of the Starbucks.

Nature in the form of a highly contagious, lethal virus is a severe boundary to our “freedom.”  Many of us have not been able to come and go as we please for months now.  The alternative is simple: court a serious life-altering (possibly life-ending) illness…or social distance, wear a mask, forswear gatherings —  do your part to slow the virus.  In nether case does freedom raise its eternal flag.  Consequences are hard-edged and real.

I had time to think upon my return drive to Batavia.  In December of 2017 we lost a granddaughter.  Kai Ruby Lewis-King was still-born just hours prior to her anticipated birth.  She would be three years old in a few days.  The loss was a life altering event for all of us, and especially to my daughter and her partner.  You don’t carry a child for nine months without nurturing visions of what life will be with that child in the future.  The event was enormous, on par with the onslaught of a novel virus without a treatment and no cure. 

The great nodal events are those within which we are swept along.  We accept or rage against the implacable.  Smaller branching events and happenings follow.  In the course of the ordinary, we believe that we are free.

The small decorated Christmas tree was planted in memory of Kai.