By Daniel Calix – Collegiate Staff
Mary Pipher’s message is a strong one: How can we allow ourselves to feel the “oh sh*t moment” and not take action?
In her book, “The Green Boat” Pipher, explores the big gap in the information we have and how we respond to it. Pipher talks of the dwindling population of the monarch butterfly, the loss of coral reefs, and the polar ice caps melting and explains, “the information is so overwhelming. We don’t have a response to it, we can’t respond to it, so we shut down.
“It is almost as if we pick up a newspaper and read ‘Life as we know it may end’ then move on and talk about where to go for lunch,” Pipher said. “There’s this moment of realization that must be dealt with.”
The renowned psychologist continued to elaborate on the problem of lack of action.
“If you’re reaction to that moment of realization is to go, I’m never going to think about it again or let’s go to the bar and forget I ever realized that, you’re not going to make much progress,” Pipher said. “Even though you’re in denial you’re also not moving beyond a place that requires a lot of energy. Denial requires a lot of energy.”
Mary Pipher, author of nine books including the New York Times bestseller “Reviving Ophelia,” will be at 7 p.m. on Feb. 11 at the Fountain Street Church. The event is free to the public.
