There are three universal languages that transcend the borders of race, religion, word, gender, color, or any other segregable or discriminatory status - smiles, food, and music. Three joys we should not be hesitant in sharing - three naturally infectious happiness' that know no boundaries, save the ones that WE wrongfully put them on.
The more that I delved into these ideas, the more I came to realize that they are the foundation of survival and building blocks of purpose. Music, Food, and Love - almost synonymous, share these things in common:
- They are indisputably requisite for a culture to be established as a culture.
Let me expound on that. We typically don't recognize a group or culture as such (and we can talk as small as a company or as large and profound as a civilization past or present) until it reaches a collective intellectual achievement or standardized form of written or spoken language. We define culture as: "the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively." When we define the "Culture" of a group or civilization, we typically look at two or three things - their sustainable qualities (Food, War, Defense, Control, Territory), their historical footprint (Art, Development, Innovation, Invention, Language, Writing, History), and how they affect or influence the rest of the world. This can fall very easily under the other two categories as these two footprints have a great deal to do with alternate civilizations, communities and cultures. What great humanities stand out, though, are ones that leave behind something of an intrinsically historic value - art, architecture, food, writing, stories and in rare cases a new or well developed science or technology (mummification, the wheel, weaponry or warfare advancements) - but we turn always to the greats; even as far back as Mesopotamian times, though I do refer mostly to the Roman through the Middle Ages into the Early and High Renaissance.
In a long story short, the staple for culture seems to center itself around Music, Food and Love.
- They bind human ties.
As universally spoken languages, their tendency to be miscommunicated are slim to none. Regional dialects and languages however have misinterpretations, misspellings, can be translated wrong and have a slew of inflections, meanings, sarcasms and situational ethics - taken out of context, words, sentences and even entire passages can mean something totally different from their original intention. Author intention and audience reception are rarely the same in these instances; not when it comes to Music, Food and Love. Though it means something different for everyone, it's difficult to misinterpret a kiss - or not feel something when listening to music - or not be inspired (or horrified) by food. Language, which can be naively and plainly tossed around, can mean very little. One can speak words all day and mean nothing, one can profess to much and still understand very little; but one cannot listen to or make music and fail to understand a story or emotion - for where words fail, music must fill the void. One cannot survive on the cultural and life staple of food and not be grateful, or alive! And one cannot go through the process of love and escape unscathed or unchanged - these are human ties that are binding - through these very clear process' we are brought closer together. It's grandma's recipe passed down. It's that song that helps to cleanse, or dull the pain, or clear your mind, or help to solidify that special moment, with that person in who's presence you feel ever so tenderly drowsy. It's your kisses and your hugs, your soft words and kind hearts with your families and spouses.
No one can dispute that this lifetime is about happiness - and when presented with the heart of charity, and the hands of good intention - these are the borders of charity that extend past all living things, and bring us happiness.
- They may also be abused.
Like any good thing in life, they may be used for ill purposes. When tempered incorrectly, when used as an excuse to avoid responsibility, when resorted to too often, or when for the wrong reasons we delve into these things, again, like all goodness, we may corrupt it.
Sadly, the most beautiful things in life have the capacity to be the most corrupt as well. Our abuse of love may lead to our false pretense of where we might find it, or how we might find it, or what kind of joy it might bring us, it can lead even to the corruption of our mind and our very soul - love is not something to flaunted and mocked - it is a sacred magic that is given to everyone to be shared with everyone for the purpose of selflessness and happiness - NOT for gratification. Our love of food may bring us to its over consumption, we may resort to not just the feeding of our bodies, but the feeding of our mouths, eyes, and minds - we, like the very food we harvest, may feed ourselves to our deaths. Even our love of music may corrupt us - in a time of technology, it seems easier to resort to a place a music than to fight a battle worth fighting. While therapeutic, the premonition of running from responsibility and care can be devastating. Music with slandering messages, written for the any other reason that it's original purpose, to glorify God and his children, to uplift and promote happiness, to share only good things, only good feelings and only good messages, has in it's very own blood drowned itself.
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There is so much good in this world, and it is beautiful, and lovely, and all things pleasant and glorifying - why would we seek to destroy that? Why would we think of disgracing happiness and the nature of goodness in the world.
Charity knows no borders - save for the ones we put on it. It brings nothing but happiness. As I understand it, when given selflessly - Love, Music, and Food seem to cover, around the world, what I picture charity to be; selflessness, service, kindness, caring, passion, cleanliness and order. We are the stuff that stars are made of, and we are the light that shines in the forever's of space - and we will forever feed off the songs of love and goodness.
May God or whatever higher power you believe in grant you with so many blessings that you have no more room to receive them and that you may do nothing but pay them forward, freely, with no intention of return or praise. You all things good and lovely - and there is someone waiting at every turn of everyday to remind you, if you'll let them!
The borders of Charity do not exist!
