Brian’s Reflection: Friday, May 30, 2008


It is disturbing to discover in oneself these curious revelations
of the validity of the Darwinian theory. If it is true that we have
sprung from the ape, there are occasions when my own spring
appears not to have been very far.

- Cornelia Otis Skinner, actress, author,
born on this day, 1901 in Chicago


Cornelia attended Bryn Mawr, and studying theatre at the Sorbonne. She began her career on the stage in 1921. She appeared in several plays before embarking on a tour of the USA 1926 to 1929 in a one-woman performance of short character sketches she herself wrote. She wrote numerous short humorous pieces for publications like The New Yorker. These pieces were eventually compiled into a series of books, including Nuts in May, Dithers and Jitters, Excuse It Please!, and The Ape In Me, among others. With Emily Kimbrough, she wrote “Our Hearts Were Young and Gay”, an hilarious description of their European tour after college.

Well ….. Yes. Not very far! Most human beings like to think ….. if they are able to grasp the fact that we evolved from “apes”, and many still today shudder at the idea, ….. but not I! ….. that we are far superior to the apes from which we evolved, or even not at all related, good Heavens! This latter is a serious delusion. Talk about being puffed up with pride and hubris! And talk about cutting ourselves off from roots we need to be authentic beings!

I have to say that my own spring seems often not to have been very far! And when I look around the human community, ditto. (Pardon my prejudices.) You would think, would you not, that 5-6 thousand years would have provided enough time to Evolve. But ….. Hell No! Here we are, still acting like territorial beasts, like mini-brained people who had never had any “spiritual “ paths set before us on which to Evolve.

Well: we need to Evolve, people! (I love the bumper sticker, “Oh, Evolve”!!) We’ve had enough time. We’ve had enough wise guidance from some pretty super people. I have often said that Love is an act of the Will. It is. We’ve heard the “Message” from many Teachers. Time to engage our evolved human brain and choose the Enlightened Life.

“God” will not force us to choose. “God” has created us in Her image. She awaits our awakening to who we truly are, who we desire to Be. The power and vision to choose lies within.
Brian+