Essence of Soul

What is soul? Of a person, group, organization, town, company? Or a nation? The dictionary tells us:

Soul  -   NOUN

1.        the spiritual or immaterial part of a human being or animal, regarded as immortal.

synonyms:

psyche · inner self · inner being · essential being · pneuma · anima · ego · id · ka · atman

o    a person's moral or emotional nature or sense of identity.

"in the depths of her soul, she knew he would betray her"

synonyms:

spirit · psyche · (inner) self · innermost self · (inner) ego · inner being · 

2.        emotional or intellectual energy or intensity, especially as revealed in a work of art or an artistic performance.

"their interpretation lacked soul"

synonyms:

inspiration · feeling · emotion · passion · animation · intensity · fervor · ardor · 

o    African American culture or ethnic pride.

3.        the essence or embodiment of a specified quality.

"he was the soul of discretion" · 

[more]

synonyms:

embodiment · personification · incarnation · epitome · quintessence · 

Spiritual or creedal ideas may enter this picture, and that is why many believe ‘soul’ is a theological concept. You will note the dictionary does not burden the definition with religion. No, it prefers to connect soul with the essence or core of what a person is, or a group of people, culture, and so on.

Soul. Who is this person, or that one? What is the quintessential identity of a town, community, or individual? What makes them special or stand alone in some way or other?

I once served on a city council and in a public meeting we were discussing the value of strategic planning. A townsman rose and asked why we needed to plan when our community was pretty darn good already? Stunned, I replied: “because what makes us pretty darn good can be lost by engulfing change. What is it that makes us good that we do not want to lose? Ever! Do we know that? Planning helps us preserve the important things while accommodating change.”  We did the planning project.

But that incident taught me that we often do not grasp the essence of who and what we are? What makes us unique and in need of preservation? We will change in many ways; it is the way of all life. But what must be saved along the way so we do not lose ourselves? That is an important question, one we often do not ask.

When we do not ask that question, we are in grave danger of losing who we are.

December 13, 2021

 

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