The incredible legendary band "Earth, Wind, and Fire" was fabulous last night in concert at the newly constructed "First Bank Amphitheater" located about 30 miles south of Nashville just off of I-65 and I-840. I learned about the concert a day before and was very excited about hearing them.
At the concert over 7,000 never seated fans completely engaged in the performance, were joined by countless event staff, and the vendors all had a great evening in the fresh crisp autumn air under a clear blue and ultimately moonlit sky. "EWF" performed their electrifying music with amazing energy and precision gilded by sparkling brass and lifted by amazing percussion effects, great vocals and the usual band members. It was an evening to remember to say the least and picked up my spirits to heights it hasn't known in years.
After the concert as I looked around the venue with it's illuminated walls of stone surrounding it I reflected upon the war in the Ukraine, the people of both Ukraine and Russia as well as other countries in distress and wondered if it is even right to be able to enjoy such a performance. How can we live this glorious life we enjoy here in the United States and ignore all of the wrong in the world.
The truth is, you don't ignore it.
I can't imagine the insanity of one man to destroy his own country through his greed to recreate an empire long since dead. The fact that such a venue like the First Bank Amphitheater even exists is mostly due to the fact that there is long term stability in the United States. This gives the adequate time to create a society capable of producing such a thing. You can't do it in a society with turmoil, war, and political and economic chaos. Russia had made incredible strides in improving the economy with the aide of "The West" and all of the efforts of many nations and their own all have been destroyed because of Putin's senseless "military action."
Of course I am aware that my knowledge is limited in so many areas that it is probably not in my realm to comment on such things other than to offer my opinion. However, I can see the situation and try to make sense of things and one of those things is to make sense of the question "Is it 'right' to enjoy such a beautiful evening while disasters are occurring all around us?
Certainly Russia/Ukraine aren't the only things causing problems. Hurricane Ian just destroyed much of Cuba and Florida with tens of billions of dollars of damage, thousands lost their homes, businesses and livelihoods destroyed, and the list goes on. So, there is plenty to worry about and be concerned about in the world no doubt.
However upon this contemplation I have come to the realization that it is "Most" important to participate and enjoy in such things as this glorious event and venue.
Why?
Because that is part of what makes all the work worth it. That is what we are striving for. That is what we all are doing isn't it? That is worth fighting for.
For all of the personal successes there are in the world the real success as a society and a people is to create a world worth living in. Everyone goes to work to make an income, to support their families, to create success for themselves, and their projects but the truth is that everyone is taking part in the overall project of creating an amazing world full of the power of the human spirit in all of it's different forms.
It seems like people have lost sight of this cumulative effect in our society as a nation. Yes, we have success stories like Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and Jeff Bezos worth billions, and people look at them and honestly sort of worship them for their success. The personal goal of seemingly everyone is to be a 'personal success' in the same way. "I'm a success." The terror is "I'm a failure."
However the real win for success is when each person's contribution is considered part of our success as a society. What good is it if Bill Gates has billions but lives in a world fraught with poverty, pollution and filth? Is it not in his best interest to participate in the success of the world around him? Is it not in all of our best interest to do so?
It is not a stretch to say that hardly anyone present at the concert last night had anything to do with "EWF" or the Amphitheater itself besides purchase a ticket. But everyone is part of that success by doing their part in participating in a successful society that makes it possible for such a thing to even exist.
Events like this happen every day in the USA. Not unlike the massive sporting events, these cultural events should be seen for what they are, the result of everyone's participation in a world for common good.
Instead of 250,000 young men fleeing Russia because they aren't stupid enough to participate in a losing cause that is damaging their country they could be going to concerts like these and celebrating a successful society. That is why it is important to remind ourselves and send that message around the world that the thrill of life is participating in a successful society and that the roar of the crowd is a communal praise of the human spirit to rise above negativity and participate in something good.
As a country we must move forward and work on creating this kind of productivity and unity of spirit instead of bickering about petty political themes, the distribution of misinformation, and manufacturing conspiracy theories. We must return to working on real issues that matter and stop looking for ways to destroy the "other side."
Being in such an environment makes you see how important it is to build a society based in faith, trust, law and order and justice.
Lastly, it is important to remind ourselves that we are after all just human. I realized last night that it was the first time in years, literally 10 probably since I have even made anything nearing a dance move. The music and the joy lifted me up inside and helped me feel 'happy' for a while. There is no better medicine. We tend to think that life is survival but it isn't. Merely surviving is no reason to live. Living is being able to be in the moment of joy as many times possible as you can. This isn't success, this isn't thriving, this is living because no matter how much money you do or don't have, no matter what you own or don't, no matter how great you may be or average, the bottom line in life is finding these uplifting moments that make life worth living.
In closing I just want to say that one of the first things that was apparent in Germany after the devastation of World War II was the thirst of people for the theater, music, and art. There are many stories about this but what is most important to remember is that in the deepest darkest hours of desperation this is when the promise of living again with the flying emotions like you get during such performances become where you hang your hopes.
Enjoy life!
