Here’s a fun fact to know and tell: The early Greeks used to believe that the mind was located in the lungs. As proof of that, they pointed to the fact that thoughts and ideas, which come from the mind, are expressed in words. Since speaking involves expelling air from the lungs, the thoughts or ideas must be in the lungs—hence, the mind is in the lungs.
This may be why the word “inspiration” has two seemingly different meanings: inhaling and being uplifted. “Inspiration” comes from the Latin word “inspirare,” which means, literally, to inhale (the “in” root means in, and the “spir-” root means breathe). We sometimes use the word inspiration—at least medical folks do—to mean inhaling. But mostly, we use it to describe an experience that feels energizing or moving or uplifting.
It makes sense to me that these two words have the same roots. Both have to do with taking in something. Whether it’s air or excitement, that “something” keeps us alive and provides the energy to move forward with our lives.
I thought about all this over the weekend, when I found myself feeling moved and uplifted in two very different circumstances. (Both of them, by the way, involved that Greek thing about meanings emerging in voices.) I wanted to say that I was inspired by both. But then I started wondering what I meant by that … and that took me on the above side trip into Greek philosophy and the meaning of Latin roots. My digression reminds me of that bumper sticker, “Not all who wander are lost.”
Anyway, here’s what was so inspirational, what gave me a lift, what took my breath at moments. The first event was an enthusiastically delivered, unapologetically progressive, loving, and deeply thought-provoking speech by Cornel West. You may know Cornel West as an outspoken and often controversial African-American scholar, activist, gadfly, writer, and remarkable orator. He held a full-house audience at CU enthralled for a couple of hours. Lots of us wore hoodies, a statement of solidarity with Trayvon Martin and his family. But that seemed such a tiny gesture next to Dr. West’s soaring rhetoric and experiential gravitas. For a treat, listen to him for a few minutes. Through student friends, we were able to sit in the second row, where we could watch his expressive face—and feel almost like he was looking at us. His words and his impassioned, joyful presence were inspiring. I breathed it in.
The next day, we went to a concert by Resonance Women’s Chorus of Boulder. Resonance is directed by the same woman who directs Sound Circle (the 16-voice a cappella chorus I wrote about recently, twice), and it bears her stamp. Which is to say, Resonance makes inspiring music. This concert was full of it, including violin, flute, and cello accompaniment, deep lyrics, and rich choral sounds. I don’t want to do a review here—I don’t know nearly enough about music for that. I'll just say that these 130 women make beautiful music together, and in the process, they remind us of the importance of meaningful participation in the world. I was touched by many of the songs, but I'll just mention one, “Deep Peace,’ which I think is particularly wonderful. It has a meditative quality that I want to experience as I move through the last stages of life. Read the lyrics for a sense of what I mean. Better yet, check out the You Tube version (with a lovely slideshow). Best of all, go to the concert next weekend to experience it yourself.
So, afterward, I found myself wondering why two very different experiences—the booming voice of a singular, radical, hyper-energetic orator and the smooth harmonies of a large women’s chorus—both fit in the category of “inspirational.” Part of it is a message they share: both emphasize progressive social consciousness and personal engagement with the world, although they have different focuses and express their vision in different ways.
But mostly, I think it’s that both are inspired themselves—by their own messages and by their commitment to their respective causes. Seeing people who are inspired, who clearly love what they do and what they bring to others is, well, inspiring. It makes me want to sit nearby and breathe it all in.
Wait! If I breathe it in, that means I’m inspiring (in the sense of inhaling), even though they are the ones who are inspiring (in the sense of being uplifting). This is fascinating! It’s like the doing and the receiving are one.
Someone should definitely write about this.
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