The poet and philosopher Mark Nepo says that however divided we seem right now, we’re far more connected than we think. To be the best we can be, we have to meet the outer world with our inner world
If you’re worried about the future of humanity, then take heart from Mark Nepo’s reflections on an aspen grove. Aspen trees are lanky, and their bark stretches like ribbons into the sky. As we wander through the grove, says Nepo, we will see individual, separate, tall trees. But what we won’t know as we look at them is that, below ground, they are all connected: linked by the same extensive, interdependent root system. And here’s the point: what happens to one aspen tree affects them all. They might look strong, separate and independent, but they’re totally reliant on one another and on a common, if hidden, survival system.
So here’s the good news from Nepo, a poet and philosopher. In an age that sometimes seems dominated by human difference, and at a time when we’re increasingly aware of the pulling up of drawbridges, what’s visible isn’t the whole story. “On the surface we seem different, and of course each individual human being is unique; but underneath we share the same root system.” The crucial bit, says Nepo, is that evolution has fashioned us to ensure that when the chips are down, when humankind seems to be falling apart, co-operation will prevail. However divided we seem, we’ll come together in the nick of time to pull off a concerted effort that will ensure our survival.
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