Like a Rolling Stone

Human Psychology and the Law of Inertia

From People of the Lie (Scott Peck, 1982)

“Dozens of times I have been asked by patients or acquaintances: ‘Dr. Peck, why is there evil in the world? Yet no one has ever asked me in all these years, Why is there good in the world? It is as if we automatically assume this is a naturally good world that has somehow been contaminated by evil. In terms of what we know of science, it is actually easier to explain evil. That things decay is quite explainable in accord with the natural law of physics. That life should evolve into more and more complex forms is not so easily understandable. That children generally lie and steal and cheat is routinely observable. The fact that sometimes they grow up to become truly honest adults is what seems the more remarkable. Laziness is more the rule than diligence. If we seriously think about it, it probably makes more sense to assume this is a naturally evil world that has somehow been mysteriously contaminated by goodness, rather than the other way around. The mystery of goodness is even greater than the mystery of evil.”

“The Displaced Person” (1954)

"Well,” she said slowly, “yawl have looked long enough. What you think about them?”

"We been watching,” he said as if this would be news to her. “Who they now?”

“They come from over the water. … They’re what is called Displaced Persons.”

“Displaced Persons”, he said. “Well now. I declare. What do that mean?”

“It means they ain't where they were born at and there's nowhere for them to go - like if you was run out of here and wouldn't nobody have you.”

"It seems like they here, though,” the old man said in a reflective voice. “If they here, they somewhere.”

“Sho is,” the other agreed. “They here.”

“There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood”William Cowper, 1772

There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins; and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day; and there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, thy precious blood shall never lose its power till all the ransomed

church of God be saved, to sin no more. E'er since, by faith, I saw the stream thy flowing

wounds supply, redeeming love has been my theme, and shall be till I die.

Then in a nobler, sweeter song, I'll sing thy power to save, when this poor lisping, stammering tongue lies silent in the grave

Part of Eve’s Discussion (Marie Howe - 1988)

It was like the moment when a bird decides not to eat from your hand,

and flies, just before it flies, the moment the rivers seem to still

and stop because a storm is coming, but there is nostorm, as when

a hundred starlings lift and bank together before theywheel and drop,

very much like the moment, driving on bad ice, when itoccurs to you

your car could spin, just before it slowly begins to spin,like

the moment just before you forgot what it was you wereabout to say,

it was like that, and after that, it was still like that, onlyall the time.