Pleasantly Surprised

Puzzle Pieces Prior to Polarization

Conspiracy theories come in pairs. There’s the nutty theory I won’t believe in, because–well–it’s nutty, and there’s the opposite theory that, for some possibly nutty reason, I do. Motivated enough I could likely prove anything is true, which doesn’t imply that nothing is true.

Every time I take a stand I lock the front door, but I keep the back door open to offer protection to those good folk polarized in the same direction that I am. If there are monsters coming at me, this is a reasonable thing to do. Often I am pleasantly surprised by who comes through the back door seeking and offering protection. Sometimes it is the very people I thought would be storming the front door. Sometimes I look out the window on the front door after a major storm and see blue skies, pleasantly surprised at the absence of monsters.

FRESH SNOW BRIGHTENS PATHS
EVEN WINTER GRAYNESS SHINES
DOORS REMAIN UNLOCKED

Text: Linked to dVerse Haibun Monday with the theme “pleasantly surprised”. I am hosting today. The bar opens at 3 PM EST.

Photo: “Puzzle Pieces Prior to Polarization” by the author.

Author: Frank Hubeny

I enjoy walking, poetry and short prose as well as taking pictures with my phone.

68 thoughts on “Pleasantly Surprised”

  3. Frank, this is awesome!!! It’s my favorite piece of yours. Seriously incredible philosophy embedded at every turn. I can completely get behind this approach.

    This is my very favorite part: “Motivated enough I could likely prove anything is true, which doesn’t imply that nothing is true.”

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  9. For me, what is unexpected is what makes up “real life.” Which never goes as planned. Life can be messy, out of control, full of joy and sorrow. Our current political situaion is the perfect example, no one could have written it.

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  15. Frank,

    This is wonderful.

    It is interesting what we choose to believe and what we choose to discard. And I am often pleasantly surprised as well at who chooses to be on what side and believe in what things. And the surprise at times of finding you have more in common with some you thought you would never share a side with.

    I think at times, we have to willing to see all sides though.
    You never know what you might learn.

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    1. If I read Jonathan Haidt correctly, we all have that righteousness and there is no point in trying to get rid of it. We aren’t logical machines deciding from a rational frame of reference. If we were nothing would get done. Thanks, Sabio!

      Like

  20. It’s morning, your haibun is the first on my reading list, Frank, and it has kick-started my morning. Whichever way you look at conspiracy theories , they’re nutty! What an inspired sentence: ‘Motivated enough I could likely prove anything is true, which doesn’t imply that nothing is true’. I too am pleasantly surprised by who comes through the back door, but it’s usually my cat or a stray robin, and of course, no monsters!

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  21. Often I am pleasantly surprised by who comes through the back door.
    Sometimes it is the very people I thought would be storming the front door.

    Open and shut principle is good when what is expected happens the way we want (unlike above). Good thinking on this take, Frank!

    Hank

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  22. You had me, Frank, with the second sentence. I really enjoyed this one! You’ve written of “monsters” before and I really think perhaps you should consider a series 🙂 There are monsters of so many kinds….and the use of the doors, flipping back and forth…loved it!

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  25. We touched on similar territory with our Haibuns….somehow the older I get I find little startles me anymore, the imaginary downsides turn out to be upsides instead much of the time. Good prompt, Franks.

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  27. Nice how you boil this down to the essence. I can relate to this and it is often surprising indeed. Good to keep the doors open. Saw your prompt on Dverse and may give it a try later this week

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  28. shy people would use the back door, and that you leave it open is a warm welcome to those still unsure about what to expect on entering, its like an assurance that they will encounter hospitality if they do.

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  29. This goes around in such amazing circles, making my mind almost dizzy with the truth and insight of human nature. Amazed, Frank. You take me deep into us all.

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