Perfection

I wrote yesterday about the disillusionment I typically have gone through in uncovering my own "frailties and weaknesses" followed by my joy at cherishing them as part of me. The human view is that any weakness is a sign of imperfection, that perfection means no frailties and weaknesses. I now understand that this view is flawed and that God’s view is that each of us is perfect within our own imperfections. In the words of Anthony De Mello, "God weaves perfect designs with the threads of our lives," he said. "Even with our sins. We can’t see this because we’re looking at the reverse side of the tapestry."

Awareness

For decades now I have been seeking, learning and growing, quite a process. In most (all?) cases I go through idealized ideas toward disillusion, increased awareness and joy. I had an idealized view of what it was to be human and Charlie followed by introspection, alcoholism, disability and, finally, joy and fulfillment. During my path I stumbled across numerous frailties and weaknesses that I now cherish as parts of me. I have gone through a similar process and sequence with my beliefs about Native Americans, believing them to be very spiritual, discovering their humanness and coming to embrace the whole picture. I am now going through the same process regarding the world of spirits. "Jesus said, ‘Let the one who seeks not stop seeking until he finds. When he finds he will become troubled; when he becomes troubled, he will be astonished and will rule over all things.’" (gospel of Thomas)

Solution?

Yesterday I wrote about Parker J. Palmer’s comment in Healing The Heart Of Democracy: The Courage To Create a Politics Worthy of the Human Spirit that it is important to resolve the tension or conflict inherent in the democratic process with heart or love. He also quotes Benjamin Friedman as saying "When material progress falters........people become more jealous of their status relative to others. Anti-immigrant sentiment typically increases, as does conflict between races and classes; concern for the poor tends to decline." Well, material progress has faltered and Friedman’s words have come true. I believe that the solution to this situation is something like the spiritual and loving approach I write about in my book, Three Simple Questions: Being in the World, But Not of It and I will do what I can to promote it.

Resolving Conflict

Today I met with a reading group I belong to. We are reading Healing The Heart Of Democracy: The Courage To Create a Politics Worthy of the Human Spirit, by Parker J. Palmer. He writes about the importance of resolving tension or conflict with "heart" or, I would say, with love and I agree. I readily admit that resolving tension in this way requires effort, focus and attention but it also results in joy and, often, togetherness. As Williamson points out "God never loses His enthusiasm for life and neither should we." She also comments about resolving tension in this way when she writes "Seeing the light and then living in the light, we will ultimately become masters at the power it bestows."

Staying In the Present

Tonight the topic in my recovery meeting was "letting go" and I commented that "letting go [of outcomes] allows me to be in the present which is where I meet God, just wonderful". The fact is that I am responsible for what I say and do - the rest is up to Love, God, the universe or whatever a person chooses to call the presence that one encounters by staying in the present and that is a wonderful experience. Using the words of Gilbert Kilpack; "And though ideas such as these may seem unimportant in our bustling world, the testimony of seekers after life in all ages is that nothing is so important as the completion of our half-lives, the God-filling of our void." He and others use the word "God" but it is my understanding that the choice of words is not important - the feeling is.

Listening

Today I had the honor of listening to someone’s life story as part of his recovery process so through my listening I had an empathic, understanding, compassionate connection with him that lasted about four hours, exhilarating and exhausting. Such a connection requires that I put any concerns of self aside for a time and focus on the other person. I make similar connections by phone or in person several times a week. I have not been able to make strong connections through electronic means like e-mail or Facebook. "Listening is a far more difficult process than most people imagine; really to listen in the way that is meant by the masters is to let go utterly of ourselves, to let go of all the information, all of the concepts, all the ideas and all the prejudices that our heads are stuffed with." (Sogyal Rinpoche)

Holistic Practice

I lead a very holistic life for my own physical healing or maintenance as well as life in general. I don’t participate in many distractions like TV, technological toys, drugs or alcohol. I am, for the most part, physically unable to participate in most fun activities that involve any coordinated movement, which seems OK. I do attend several weekly recovery meetings and a wellness group. I do a lot of prayer and meditation, exercise often and eat carefully. To round things out I work in the garden and cook. It’s a very fulfilling and busy life. In the words of Patricia Loring "To undertake to live a discerned life, to endeavor daily to be attuned to authentic movements of the Spirit leading us into greater fullness of life, is a strenuous undertaking."

Love

In the Dhammapada the Buddha teaches that in this world hate never dispels hate. Only love dispels hate. This is also expressed in the Quaker and other traditions. I would add that love dispels or alleviates pain, fear and hurt as well. I, often find it necessary to have very firm boundaries in saying "no" or "you cannot do that here" but to do so in a loving, understanding and compassionate way, a difficult but important combination. As I commented a couple of days ago and is well written by Patricia Loring "We can cultivate an environment among us which will foster one another’s spiritual growth by directing and redirecting intention and attention to God; by discouraging what draws us away; by loving support for each other in the vicissitudes of our utterly human lives; by respecting and cherishing the uniqueness of each life."

Symptoms 2

Yesterday I wrote about some superficial signs of an underlying problem in this and other cultures, specifically racism, global warming, obesity, the opiate epidemic and others. It is first necessary to become aware that these are the symptoms of an underlying problem, not just problems themselves. In my book I suggest a loving spiritual solution, which worked in my case and required a life-style change as well as some discipline. However, I was not interested in pursuing any sort of life-style change until my life choices became very unpleasant, until I knew my life was not working. Fortunately, I had some guidance and the freedom to choose differently. "These chapters [1^st 3 of Genesis] tell a story, and through that story is revealed the agonizing discovery of our human freedom— our freedom to choose between god and evil, and not only freedom to choose but the imperative laid upon us to choose the good daily, or inevitably fall into evil."

Symptoms

There are several issues in the world today which appear to be symptoms of deeper problems and the, understandable, tendency is to attempt to address the symptoms as the problems. That approach is, obviously, not working. The problems I am referring to include racism, global warming, obesity, the opiate epidemic and others. I cannot say for certain what the solution is. However, promoting a life-style change toward something like what I suggest in my book, Three Simple Questions: Being in the World, But Not of It, would alleviate all of the symptoms - that worked for me! Well written by Patricia Loring "We can cultivate an environment among us which will foster one another’s spiritual growth by directing and redirecting intention and attention to God; by discouraging what draws us away; by loving support for each other in the vicissitudes of our utterly human lives; by respecting and cherishing the uniqueness of each life."