CHASING DOWN THE MUSE: What is good and what is wicked?

Part of the responsibility of being human is to examine the ongoing circumstances of our lives. Recent events have conspired to again bring home this point to me.

Over the past couple of weeks I have been sitting in the jurors’ box in Santa Ana. The civil case we have been hearing reminds me of a line from the Desiderata: “Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism.”

With rancor and exchanged accusations, the currency of this case, confusion reigns. It would seem there is no honesty, no integrity, if the testimony on both sides is to be believed. But is it to be believed? I, of course, cannot yet discuss this case, as it drones on. But I may speak of integrity, as I understand it to fit into the ongoing circumstances of our lives.

Integrity is defined as honesty, incorruptibility, wholeness, uprightness, honor, with its opposite being dishonesty. We would all like to believe that we have integrity, I think. But just how incorruptible, how whole, is each of us in all instances?

I seek to see the virtue and the heroism. At times it is more difficult to remind myself that it exists. This jury duty session has been one of those difficult times. So what a pleasure it was on Sunday to go to Los Angeles, to the beautiful Pantages Theater to see the delightful musical, “Wicked.” I had thoroughly enjoyed Gregory Maguire’s refreshingly take on “The Wizard of Oz” when I read it several years ago. I looked forward to this special birthday gift of revisiting his tale on stage.

The twists and turns of goodness and wickedness and the “looking at things in a different way” aspect had been a great read. They were even more tantalizing in this beautifully presented stage production. Set and costume design were marvelous, but I was still mesmerized by the very ideas set forth.

As the press releases state, “Long before Dorothy dropped in, two other girls meet in the Land of Oz.” One — Elfabah — was born with emerald green skin. She is smart, feisty and mostly misunderstood. Galinda, on the other hand, is gorgeous, ambitious and popular. In the course of the production, both have their integrity tested. And both reveal not only their failings but their virtues and personal heroism as well.

We are too often blinded. We see only the surface, not looking deeply, not examining. We may be told falsehoods as truths and far too often are led to believe them. It is important, not only to think for ourselves, but sometimes to look at things in a different way. This is the most important message of “Wicked.”

Looking at things in a different way, sometimes we need to remind ourselves of the virtue and heroism around us. Sometimes we need to look deep inside to find the same virtue and heroism and recall their importance in our everyday lives. It is important to bear witness to these attributes as we discover them in ourselves and in others.

I return to the real world of the jurors’ box once again today, along with 13 other citizens who are giving their time to try this case. We have been presented with some convoluted testimony. We have heard of some goodness and some wickedness. It will be up to us to decide which way the force of the evidence given should go — who will win; who will lose. What we decide may have great force upon the lives of those involved. It is a big responsibility.

What I have come to believe is that the 14 jurors chosen to sit for this trial are going to be the real winners. Each of us has given up something to be in that box, not the least of which is time. But what we have gained is also of great value. It is up to us to judge whether we have been told falsehoods as truth. We may be called upon to look at things in some different way. But, when this is done, we will know the honor of having served and judged to the best of our ability and with integrity. Hopefully, we are all the better for it.

CHERRIL DOTY is an artist, writer, and creative coach exploring and enjoying the many mysteries of life in the moment. She can be reached by e-mail at Cherril@cherrildoty.com or by phone at (949) 251-3883.