What to Do about our World?
Nearly all the people I talk with, the groups I am part of, and much of what I read, are talking and writing and thinking about what to do about our world. About our country. The chaos taking place no longer feels like a partisan subject; it is and will impact everyone in one way or another. I know there are people who think what our current leadership is doing is good and right and just. I am not one of them. I am very worried about how many people will be hurt in deep and irreversible ways. It looks like it may be millions of people, and not only in the United States, but around the world.
I think there is a fundamental confusion about what the elements of a ‘good life’ are. Rather than peace, connection, and caring for each other, some feel the way to ensure a good life is separation from and disregard for the other. In a land of immense resources, both natural and intellectual, many seem to be gripped by greed. Greed for more things, money, power, control or status, maybe even greed for greed’s sake. But I know that the behavior of greed stems from pain of some sort, from the sense of personal not-enoughness, a sense of deep inner aloneness, insecurity, scarcity, and fear. The kind of fear that causes us to disdain and oppress those not like us. In this scarcity mindset, there is not enough of what we want - and perceive that we need - to go around.
Many are asking, "What can I do? What can one person do?” I am asking the same thing. I know that falling into paralyzing despair is not helpful for anyone, although I admit sometimes, I feel it lurking around the corner.
I think about the ancient spiritual principle from multiple traditions: “Hatred cannot cease by hatred, but by love alone is healed”.
I think that’s a pretty good starting point. Love. An overused and often misunderstood word. Love in this sense is not sentimental love; it is not about sappiness and romanticizing. This is existential, spiritual love, love that is the very fabric of the universe, residing in the heart and soul of every being, and at the same time, is connected to that which is larger than ourselves (which is almost everything).
This love is a quality, a state of mind and heart that is rooted in the fact of our fundamental interdependence with each other and all of life. In truth, we cannot survive without such interconnection and interdependence. When we genuinely let that in, it softens the heart because it shifts the view of others as the enemy to others as part of a whole that includes us and them. We don’t have to like everyone, and certainly may not agree with or condone behavior, but whether we like it or not, in a sense, we are all siblings.
We are all made of the same stuff, we all seek to be safe and healthy, to belong and to be loved. Even those who do harm, they too want these things. They want to be safe, have their basic rights, be healthy, secure, and even loved. Their misguided greed gets in their way, so they think in order to have these things they need to take them away from others. Misguidedness gets in all our ways sometimes. We have that in common, too; we are all imperfect humans, even if not all of us traffic in doing intentional harm.
Because of the vastness of our interconnectedness, it is difficult for one person to do much alone. But also because of that same vast interconnectedness, together, we can do a lot. But we need to start with ourselves. With our own hearts and minds. This is not selfishness; just the opposite. If our own hearts and minds are clouded with fear and we let anger fester into malice and hateful action, we are just adding to the problem. If we use our anger at injustice to fuel our passion for helping and if we take the time to be guided by the wisdom and compassion of our hearts, chances are the actions we take will help and not harm. If we dip into the reservoir of goodwill – of love – inherent in all humans (and I do believe it is in all humans, no matter how covered up it is), we will have the clarity and wisdom to take positive, helpful action – to do the next right thing.
When we have done the inner work to find the love in our hearts and the clarity in our minds, we can join with others who have done the same, and together positive action can happen.
I love these words from L.R. Knost: “Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world. All things break. And all things can be mended. Not with time, as they say, but with intention. So go. Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally. The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you.”
And from Rumi: "If everything around you seems dark, look again. You may be the light."
May we all find the light that resides in each of us. This seems a good resource and a good beginning.
What resources do you call upon to help navigate these times?
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