Who Decides Reality? (Hint: You Already Do)

Ever got this comment? "You live in lala land! You're not in reality! You live in fantasy! It's never gonna happen, your ideas are preposterous!"

If there's anything that gets me fired up, it's this! This line—"You're not living in reality!" Wait, who decides reality!? How many lives did that line kill!?

The other day, I was having an argument with someone regarding guns in the USA. I happen to be against the 2nd Amendment—an article for another time, maybe. But what struck me was his line: "You're living in fantasy land."

I had proposed getting all guns off the street through extreme measures. Death penalty for any civilian in possession of a weapon. Shutting down all gun manufacturers selling to civilians. Etc.

And yes, I agree that good guys should have guns if the bad guys have them. We can debate that in another piece. Don't get caught up in the gun story—I was just giving an example.

Now, I agree I have no way of getting it done. And I'm sure the legalities are way over my head. But my point was, we could do something about our gun problem other than making even more guns and making them more accessible.

But this idea of me living in a fantasy and hoping for a better future because I refuse to accept the status quo is extremely offensive. We've become so divided and indoctrinated in our views that even when someone comes up with an idea—and yes, admittedly, an extreme idea—the first thing we say is, "Oh, you're living in fantasy land."

I imagine a conversation 250 years ago where someone told a friend, "I dream of a day when getting from one side of the world to the other can be achieved by flying through the air in a metal tube in less than 12 hours!" I can hear his friend's hearty laughter at the foolish idea! Building-sized metal flying through the air!? What a fantasy one must be living in to imagine!

As Jews, we also believe in a magical fantasy land to come. It's called the Mashiach. A time when the lion will lie with the sheep—oh, what a fantasy! A time when there will be no hunger anywhere on this planet—oh, what a fantasy! A time when weapons will no longer be needed—oh, what a fantasy!

Now, we might disagree on how Mashiach will happen. I'm not of the opinion that it's a magical pill and that from one day to the next, all the world's problems will be fixed. I believe it's a slow and gradual process. But ultimately, we're all waiting for this fantasy to occur.

All I'm suggesting is that we start living like He's already here. Because the truth is, He is. It's us and our mindsets that aren't. So tell me, who decides reality? And are you willing to start living like it's already changed?

Happy fantasy. 😇😇

-איש