Getting Away

In the song Fly Away, singer Lenny Kravitz explains his reasons of why he would like to “get away”. I am not sure where he would like to go, but the song simply speaks about another place than where he is at. Many other songs I have heard recently have echoed this same theme. Begrudgingly mentioned, Kelly Clarkson repeats Kravitz’s idea in Breakaway, a hit with the masses. Whether it is getting away from a lover, a home or simply the body, I’ve noticed many new “popular” songs referencing this idea of “getting away”.

It is also found in everyday life. We have instituted weekends and vacation days to “get away” from our mundane life. Today, people live for the weekends so they can escape and be free. For vacations, some really get away to remote places in the world such as the mountains or beaches. Living in a mountain town exposed me to these people in their “get away” state whether they were vacationing or permanently placed. As John Denver states, “he left yesterday behind him, you might say he was born again. You might say he found the key to every door”. Mountains and oceans will do that to a person. To experience the vastness of nature humbles a person. Yet, in these mountain towns, these people who were “finding themselves” reacted similarly to a city slicker. Not in the sense that the city person clung to positions and modernity’s comforts, but there was a place they always would rather be. In the mountains, there are plenty of other activities in nature to do to conquer, but the same problem existed. The person could never get away, but the opportunities to try were greater than what cities offer.

The internet, tv, movies and books all play crucial roles in our escape from reality. When can become someone else, do greater things and be in another world at the touch of our hands and the launch of our imagination. I have seen people in a sea of humans, but they do not speak to those around them, but on their cell phones or other communication device to another person who may very well be in outer space.

I am not sure why this topic continues to surface in many things I see and hear. One could react and say it is the human being reacting to its limitations, thus it is trying to become something greater. Bears do not try and fly. Squirrels are not prone to swim. The rest of nature seems to be satisfied with their abilities except for the human. One may argue that this is the result of the “fall” and sin. This could be a valid point in that we were created in His image and now we are disconnected from this purpose unless we know Him.

Or, it could be something else…

Existentialism is prevalent today. In one of the greatest and most successful albums in recent times, X & Y, Coldplay repeatedly mentions the notion: “if you never try then you’ll never know.” The basis of existentialism is in the essence of the being and this being must be let out through actions that are physically felt. It is solely based on the senses because knowledge must be met and knowledge is only contained in the senses. Thus, to be alive, you must feel. To be greater than life itself is the ultimate goal. Flying, would do that.

Why flying? Why is “getting away” such an important idea? I do believe solitude and rest is beneficial to all, but selfishly done and it will become something terrible. Emerson rights in his essay Self-Reliance that a great man holds to his solitude while being in a crowd and I would concur. Most people who want to get away are not saying this because a job is going well, a marriage or relationship is fine or a dream is being fulfilled. Why would anyone want to leave such a place? It would be like leaving heaven because you could do better. Yet, when “something” happens, this all changes. The once perfect situation now is hell and this person who apparently is created in the image of God, now wants to make like a tree and leave.