The World Pushes Against work was commissioned by my friend and colleague Dr. Jennifer Heder and the Fresno City College Chamber Singers. After many hours searching for the right text that would hopefully speak to her students, I returned to one of my favorite bits of wisdom from Albert Camus. 

Camus is often considered an existentialist, though he took issue with that label. His writing is deeply concerned with human existence, and often challenges our conception of what it means to be human; to rationalize the gift and sometimes curse, of existence. 

While his writing may not be for everyone, I have always found it deeply moving, brave, and willing to ask questions that many of us may be too afraid to ask. Perhaps, this means that he, at times, delves into the darkness of humanity more than some prefer. That being said, speaking to that darkness is what allows him to place greater emphasis on the light within us. 

The text speaks to the sometimes-present feeling of the world standing as an obstacle in one’s path. He describes it as, “the world pushes against me.” I’m all too familiar with that feeling. But, as the text turns, Camus gives way to something much lighter, brighter, and ultimately inspiring. He states that “In the middle of winter (the dark nights of our lives), I at last discovered that there was in me an invincible summer.”

I was so drawn to this idea of the invincible summer, and immediately knew that it would speak to fellow humans, and the singers of the Fresno City College Chamber Singers. As is true with all my writing, I do my best to speak to what it means to be human. I am hoping to have done so with this work. 

-Connor Koppin