THE EXAMINED LIFE (The Fourth Estate Of "I")

The Fourth Estate of "I", is a personal journey of words and ideas; irrespective of the fleeting vagaries of  the ever changing temporal present. It is concerned, in its purest form, with a set of personal inquiries designed to facilitate the process of self-discovery.

In Journalism, these are known as the "Five W's and an H" (who, what, where, when, why, and how). The rhetorician Hermagoras of Temnos set out seven "Circumstances" necessary to the analysis of any factual issue: Quis - who, Quid - what, Quando - when, Ubi - where, Cur - why, Quem ad modem - in what way, and Quibus adminiculis - by what means. The 21st Canon of  The Lateran Council utilized a similar set of questions for spiritual confessors seeking penance for their sins.

However we denote the inquiries - as journalistic principles, sets of analytical circumstances, or as spiritual guidance for wayward souls - the desired product of the search remains the same. They are all, a search for answers; whether they be factual, ideological, or spiritual.

Eventually, we all end up struggling, in one capacity or another, with the ephemeral questions that trouble and define our existence. Who am I? What should I do with my life? Why am I here? How, or where, do I find happiness?

Unfortunately, for most of us, these questions are never completely answered. But, somehow, in our on-going inchoate struggles for some measure of meaning, we do find moments of understanding, peace, and happiness. This is the beautiful, mysterious, poignancy of life - that despite all the ugliness, greed, and troubles in the world, the beauty of The Creator shines through, and we see the miracles and majesty of his  ever graceful hand. And that, is The Fourth Estate of  "I", that in each of us exists a remnant of The Divine:  hope, the capacity for love,  forgiveness, and charity. How could we ask for anything more.