September 11, 2023

Writing a spiritual fable always carries a risk: it might be taken literally, personally, or politically. When you write a fable about human nature, a hundred people will have a hundred different takes on it. This kind of variety is what makes our species so interesting.

Spiritual and philosophical questions are hard. They don’t have easy answers, because we are complicated animals, making life complicated for ourselves and each other.

It would be much more relaxing to tell or read a story with an all-good protagonist versus an all-evil antagonist, climaxing in a fight to end all fights. But after the smoke of the fairy tale battle clears, we are still left with ourselves. What do we do with our hatred, greed, jealousy, and the primitive need to oppress others?

The seven deadly sins—-greed, lust, gluttony, sloth, anger, jealousy, pride—-are all variations on the survival instinct. As human animals, we have to decide: do we nurture these instincts, deny them, or acknowledge them while keeping them in check?

What about during an existential crisis? What about when we are being TOLD there’s an existential crisis?

If you take THE HEAVY BRIGHT personally, politically, or even literally, then it’s working for you, believe it or not.

Keep those negative reviews coming. They tell me a lot about where you are, and where the culture is pushing you.