I was reminded of yet another musical in which Stephen Sondheim and John Weldman wrote about the first encounter of Americans with people and culture of Japan. In this musical (“Pacific Overtures’), a Japanese character sung (in sparse Kabuki style) about witnessing the first encounter between Admiral Perry (representing the USA) and the Japanese dignitaries. These “real” events, accompanied by “unreal” songs, speak to the power of witnessing. While we might not be “worthy” ourselves, we can participate in or at least observe something that provides an indirect sense of “worthiness.” Much in the case of a billiard ball bouncing off one or more billiard table cushions (a “bank shot’) to tap another ball into the pocket, the sense of self-worth is gained from a bank shot off the worth of someone or some event that is truly “worthwhile.”
This reliance on back-shots might contribute to the challenge of Psychic Complexity (a VUCA-Plus condition). We not only are saturated with multiple images of self but also find that these multiple images are interdependent—as are all entities in a complex system (Miller and Page, xxx0. We may find our sense of self (and of self-worth) relying indirectly on a successful bounce off the wall of some observation of worthy behavior of other people or of a community. Given what is now happening in American society, these indirect sources of Worth might be few and far between. Furthermore, the complex sense of self is often joined by the other troubling conditions of VUCA-Plus. When Volatility, Uncertainty, and Ambiguity reign supreme, it is hard to find our own worthy and reliable self.
The third theme that pervaded my Head and Heart, especially when driving back to our hotel in Connecticut, concerned the matter of Sanctuary. We face the challenge of working in Stone Buildings, living in Stone Cities, being controlled by Stone Laws, and fighting off the temptation to harden one’s heart and live vicariously off the successes of other people. Where is a place that provides us with relief (at least temporarily) from these challenges? The warm and inviting 54 Below provides me (and many other people) with a sanctuary of food and song. I breathe deeply when entering this cabaret and even find respite when viewing live 54 Below performances on my computer.
