Human Vessels

Here’s a fun idea, if you’re into metaphor.

I like to think of people as vessels. I choose the term vessel because of its many similar definitions, of which I’ll only discuss the most common because it’s the only one I really need to talk about to make my point.

The human body is mostly made up of liquids. Our physical foundation is comprised of a multitude of essential fluids. The quality and quantity of these fluids determine our physical condition. That’s the anatomical application of the term vessel for an individual human being.

To speak of people as vessels in a metaphorical way is really not so different. A person could be defined by three different things: what they think, say, and do. There are trillions of variations and subcategories, but for now let’s just leave it at these three. We can even pretend that we’re making clever allusions to the “Four Humors”—phlegm, bile, urine, and blood.

In any case, a person is a vessel for these three definitions of who they are. No matter which definition one may place greater value upon, there are always variances in quantity and quality. Quantity is a characteristic evident just by looking, but quality demands greater scrutiny through our other senses.

This leads to the next part of this idea, which is consumption. Every kind of relationship with another human being is a process of consumption. No one is a bottomless cup, but everyone has something to offer. The key is quality. And I’m not just talking about content, but the entire vessel as a system. The pleasure of being a conscious vessel is the capability to determine what we are through and through, both the outside shell and the collection within. I would even call it an art to devise this sort of system in a way that’s sublime and meaningful—working hand in hand with, and articulating what nature gave us. Consistency inside and out is rarely the case, and very boring when it is.

As consumers, we have similar powers and limitations, including our preferences. Some choose to sip and sample, some gulp down quickly, and some keep demanding after the cup has run dry. Some savor. I think it’s safe to say that whatever these wants and needs may be, they are a direct reflection of the consuming vessels themselves. The process of consumption is an honest diagnosis of a vessel’s condition, and its perception of its condition. I think of it as spills and drips in the course of reaching equilibrium.

I conclude with a hopeful thought. The blessing of being human and alert entails that we are never the same vessel throughout our life span, and that our contents are in a constant state of fluctuation. What we need and what we can offer are decided by these changes.

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