Wrapped in a few words like an egg roll, homilies often have a sing song balance about them that brings to mind the simple things in life. And they share many important features with bird brains. When I walked ashore it was as if I had seen a map with the words “you are here,” which is one part of a geographic homily. After all, if you are here, then you’re not there or somewhere else. In fact, these words evoke a solemn recognition from deep within helping me to establish myself in time and space. I, who have felt moulinexed and tumbled by the days, have gathered myself, complete and whole before this map with an arrow pointing towards a spot. So here I be.
It might be that shoppers lose a portion of their brain cells once inside a mall. It’s similar to the loss a bird experiences when its flown clear across the world from Antarctica to New Jersey. They arrive and their invisible, magnetic welcome sign reads, “You are here.” They drop 5 grams of raw brain power because they no longer need to carry the maps and topography of half the world within their skulls. So, they lighten their load. There must be invisible but sentient compass pointers in the other direction, indicating home. The world is covered in signs.