They say we become "set in our ways" as we get older and it is a widely accepted proposition. But, why should this be? As we go through life accumulating experiences why should this make us more statically tied to those specific perspectives? Wouldn't a more logical response be to accept how varied and dynamic the world around us is, to expand rather than shrink our view of it? Do we fear so much the loss of this particular thread that we have woven through existence that we need to try and grasp tighter and tighter to it as we begin to see the inevitability of it slipping from our fingers?
Maybe there is something to that age-old concept of "enlightenment" preached by the sages before preaching became its own practice. Why should our world grow smaller the more we learn about it? Nearly every story of the "after-life" seems to include some concept of "revelation", where all will be understood, accepted, and embraced. Why should these be offered only after we have struggled through this singular existence?
What if the point is not to narrow this one life we have, attempting to find and follow a strict path to the end in hopes that it will lead to all being revealed. What if, instead, we assume all these experiences are supposed to widen our view of the world, the universe, nature, people, ourselves, and our existence? What if revelation is ours to create through understanding, acceptance, and embracing?
