Hitchens and the Ultimate Human Limitation

It’s fascinating how news shapes our lives. When I awoke this morning I had no intention of writing about Christopher Hitchens and every intention of writing about human limitations. And yet, it seems Hitchens has met the ultimate human limitation: mortality.

No, this won’t be one of those posts about the fate of Hitchens soul. His soul is in his own keeping and I merely tip my hat in respect for the work he did while living.

Today, the idea of limitation seems unacceptable. No one wants to admit they have a limitation. Particularly Americans. Particularly those of us in Protestant shaped cultures. Nothing is impossible if we work hard enough. We can do anything if we’re willing to work for it. With grit and determination we can achieve anything.

Yet that’s not true, is it? We cannot prevent our eventual death. Not everyone can paint like Picasso. Write like Shakespeare. Dance like Baryshnikov. Act like Brando. Every single one of us has limitations.

Sometimes our limitations are palpable. We lose a limb. We lose our sight. We are very young. We are very old. We are too thin. We are too fat. Some limitations are more subtle. We have an IQ on the far end of a spectrum. We have a particular sexual orientation. We have a certain cultural identity. Every single one of us has limitations.

Here, in the darkest part of the year, is a good place to face our limitations. To face them. To own them. To accept them. It’s a process I’m going through, and yes, it’s likely a bit of the “fallout” from my initiation. I came to realize I had a limitation, and that I could work hard and develop compensating skills but I would never be able to effectively overcome it. It was a hard thing to face. Still is. A limitation makes us feel like we’re less, or that we are somehow damaged. But recognizing our limitations for what they are is facing the truth, and like they say, the truth will set you free.

Struggling against your nature is an uphill battle. It’s tiring. It’s stressful. It makes you feel incompetent and stupid. Albert Einstein is reported to have said:

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

I’m finding this quote a good one to meditate on this season. It reminds me of one of the Delphic maxims: “Think as a mortal.” That’s a powerful statement. We’re not meant to think as Gods. We’re not meant to think as dolphins. We’re not meant to be something we’re not. We are meant to be fully, unequivocally human.

Maybe you have a situation where you are a fish and you’re being asked to climb a tree. Everyone around you is climbing trees, so they think you can too. Maybe you’ve worked out some way to shimmy up using ropes. Then one day, you look around and think, “What the hell am I doing? I’m a fish. My talent is swimming! Why am I breaking my back trying to climb trees?”

Maybe you mourn the realization you’ll never swing through the trees with the grace of a monkey. But then you realize that you are not just a person with limitations, but a person with talents. You jump out of that tree and dive into the ocean. What a relief! Something you’re good at! Something you can excel at and develop a sense of pride about!

We are all going to die. It’s our ultimate limitation. We have a limited amount of time on earth. We shouldn’t spend it fighting our natures, but celebrating them. If you are a baker, take great pride in that! Not everyone can bake! Celebrate who you were born to be. Don’t let other people define your talents and limitations. We are each of us unique. Find your limitations, face them and then place them in perspective. Focus on your talent and live a full, happy mortal life.

Hitchens has met the ultimate limitation. He didn’t spend his life trying to be a second rate priest or a failed children’s author or a crappy baker. He didn’t spend his life trying to be a fish climbing a tree. A lot of religious people find his disbelief to be a limitation, and maybe it was. He faced it though, he understood he would never be a religious person and instead of struggling against his nature (as many do, including those in seminary) he became one of the greatest proponents of reason in our age. He lived well, embracing his talents and nature. I admire him for that.

As I face my limitations during this Hallowstide, I’m making peace with them so that I can leave them behind me as we enter Yuletide. When the Sun returns I want to make sure I’m focusing on my talents, instead of struggling with my limitations. I want to make sure I’m honoring and celebrating my humanity, rather than trying to be a fish climbing a tree.

Note: Thank you so much to everyone who has donated to my laptop fundraiser! I’m trying to think of something nice to do for the people who donated. I’m a bit overwhelmed by the response. I wasn’t expecting to receive anything but I’m about halfway to being able to get a decent basic laptop. Thanks so much for your support!