CONSIDER: S.P.E.C.I.E.S. – PART VII

Well, gentle reader, we have now briefly explored each of the seven dimensions that help define our human SPECIES. These dimensions – the Spirit(ual), the Physical, the Emotional, the Cultural, the Intellectual, the Environmental, and the Social – inform each other, support each other, and when one is depleted all are negatively affected, if not depleted. Some folks believe that one of these is more important than the others; my hunch is that we can find folks that could make a good case for each of these dimensions to be the ‘key’ dimension. I have my bias as to which dimension is the most impactful and you, gentle reader, might well have your bias. My current thinking is that one dimension becomes the focus, the ‘key’ if you will, during a specific time in history or in response to a specific need that our Species has. It seems to me that the focus is also determined by the need of a sub-culture (a clan, a society, a nation, a geographical location) and that as the sub-culture develops the focus shifts. It is also important to remember, or note, that as with our individual development we as a Species or sub-culture can get ‘stuck.’ That is, we continue to focus on one dimension when another dimension needs to emerge as the focus. History continues to inform us, or remind us (I was going to use the word ‘teach’ but I am not sure that we learn from history as we need to), that becoming stuck in one dimension will lead to bad things happening for our Species and more significantly for a specific sub-culture.

Since we have recorded our history we know how nearly impossible it has been to grasp our human Species and it dimensions as a whole; we have, by necessity it seems, focused on our own sub-culture. Today, given how technology has enabled us to connect with almost everyone who is part of the human Species (and I think that at some point in time we will indeed be able to connect with everyone) we are becoming more and more aware of ourselves as being truly part of the human Species. We are, more and more, recognizing the needs our human Species has in each of the seven dimensions. We are more aware that we are ‘our brothers and sisters’ keepers. We are truly, in this together. Together we are truly stewards of all that makes up our planet.

We are more aware of the impact that our sub-culture has upon other sub-cultures and upon the human Species. If, as a sub-culture, we continue to consume more than ‘our share’ (and who is to define what ‘our share’ entails) then another sub-culture will be harmed; then, just as importantly, our human Species will be harmed. Historically we know what happens when one sub-culture has significantly more than another interconnected sub-culture (ask the French, ask the Russians, ask the Iranians). Because of technology we now have the opportunity to truly learn about and become powerfully connected to other sub-cultures so that we might tap into our compassion, empathy, and deep caring and choose to help them address their human Species needs.

We have the opportunity; time will reveal whether we have the motivation to more directly serve the needs of our human Species and our S.P.E.C.I.E.S.