Trouble?

THURS., OCT. 8, 1992, 8:31 AM
AIRPORT, ST. LOUIS

This is an interesting negative word. It can apply to you… are you in trouble? It can apply to your family… are there troubles within it? Its referent can be the university… what about its obvious troubles? Or the state or nation… certainly they have troubles galore. Yet I have you put a question mark after the word, encouraging you to question whether all that is defined or assumed to be trouble truly is.

You are not feeling well today, and you wonder whether this good body of yours is experiencing some trouble that should have attention other than a positive attitude. You should go on this latter assumption at least for this day, and see how you feel tomorrow. As you move further along the aging track you shall find it difficult, often, to determine whether a “poorly feeling” or some pains are just natural and to be “lived with” or whether you should seek some treatment. Occasionally I shall advise you, but more often you will have to decide for yourself.

The family of which you are a part is not perfect… is not even ideal… but it is generally functional, with a good deal of love felt and displayed. You have a good relationship with your parents, and you give them some attention, but their lives are not demanding of you, and you should see this as a blessing. Your sons all have some troubles, but in comparison with some others of their age they are quite well-off and adaptable. You are ready to help, but hope you don’t have to.

The university, your place of employment and the practice of your profession, is having troubles, but it does not appear that you’ll be adversely affected. Possible major changes, such as the demise of tenure, may finally occur, but not within your working life. You really can afford to just enjoy your classes and your colleagues, letting the troubles resolve themselves or be resolved by those who want to be so involved.

Obviously your university’s health is quite dependent on that of the state. As it is easy to observe, people resist paying more in taxes but want quite a variety and number of services, including higher education. Yet your institution must compete with others and with these many other tax-supported programs for sustenance. When cutbacks seem necessary this is troublesome. Look for “good things” first, and, in perspective, you shall see that the troubles are miniscule. So say I, from My vantage point.

Your nation is a unique one, and I am proud of some aspects of your life and ashamed of and displeased with others. As I have told you, I am not “behind” political systems, so I am not concerned with the present campaigning and all that is promised, mostly in vain. I have no urgent advice for your country’s monetary situation. With the huge debt you can’t be accused of “laying up for yourselves treasures on earth”! People should not be in need, and yet part of this comes about because of excess people. I still haven’t decided on and arranged a way out of this “trouble”, but I may have to, sometime soon. As you know I am concerned with the sustainability of this special planet. I’d rather not intervene directly, but this is still a possibility. I prefer to let most troubles be resolved in natural, human ways. Is this a troublesome attitude? Perhaps.