Modern life in - Egypt and the Promised Land

“So pharonic oppression, deliverance, Sinai, and Canaan are still with us, powerful memories shaping our perceptions of the political world....
We still believe, or many of us do, what the Exodus first taught, or what it has commonly been taken to teach, about the meaning and possibility of politics and about its proper form:

--first, that wherever you live, it is probably Egypt;
--second, that there is a better, place, a world more attractive, a promised land;
--and third, that “the way to the land is through the wilderness.” there is no way to get from here to there except by joining together and marching.”

from Exodus and Revolution by Michael Walzer


This midrash by Prof. Michael Walzer teaches us a unique framework of thinking about our professional and personal life.  Using the biblical narrative of the Exodus story, Prof. Walzer explains that in every revolution there’s an “Egypt” – a problem with your current market or situation, and a “Promised Land” – an ideal future that you’re trying to reach. To get there, the people must walk together with the help of a leader – it involves hard work and a journey. 


I've learned this framework as part of the PresenTense curriculum as it is used in our visioning class - to learn more visit the PresenTense blog for my blog post on visioning.

So, what’s your Egypt?