I have studied religion, the Good Book, philosophies. I’ve obtained academic degrees in the fields of education, deaf education, and counseling. I have worked in the fields of ministry, counseling, and education. I’ve taught children who have suffered sexual abuse, verbal abuse, and neglect. I’ve taught children who cannot hear, cannot speak, cannot imagine anything but what comes in black and white. I’ve taught children who scream all
day, children who cry all day, children who cannot speak English, children who know not how to play without hitting and cursing. And I have worked with countless adults who have no idea what they love, who they love, or how to live a life that is purposeful and fulfilling. I have worked with the jobless, the homeless, the aged refugees, and teen parents. I have walked alongside of the suicidal and the depressed ones who know not how to find lightness of spirit.
And I have done my own inner work… the work that rises out of sleepless, dark nights. I have looked into the face of my demons, had them spit upon me, torment me, and pull me deeper into the false beliefs that they own me and because of that there is no goodness or worth in me.
And I’m wondering how do we each find our way and who teaches us, who guides us toward our own sacred ground? I have lived a life of blessing that is full of voices that nurture and heal and hold out hope. I have the joy of parents who wanted me, loved me and while well into their seventies they still pray for my life and my dreams. I have friends who are true, who offer words and music and laughter and soulful wisdom that keep the flame flickering. And yet, so much of my tending has been with those who have not had such beginnings or nourishment. So how might we, as individuals and as a society, more carefully attend to these dear ones? We have systems in place. We have non-profit organizations. We have churches and schools. We have volunteers. We have public service organizations, social workers, counselors, medical teams. We have lots and lots of really valuable, loving, well-trained professionals everywhere giving of their time, talents, and expertise… giving of their lives…to the service of others. And yet… we still have poverty in our nation, we still have homeless sisters and brothers; we still have an epidemic of depression. There is murder each and every day. Children lose their beautiful innocence well before they go off to kindergarten, and our treasured elders line hallways of their own homeless shelters yearning to be seen and loved.
There is deep need spinning in the human soul. And it is here we must find ourselves. It is here we must take ourselves. What feeds you? No. I’m not talking about hobbies or friends or vacations. I’m talking about if everything was stripped away from you and you were bare naked in mind, body, and spirit…what would sustain you? What would give you life in the purest sense of the word? Because, this is the conversation I believe we must bring to the forefront. The strange powers of the world will tell you that your happiness is wrapped up in what you see on television and in the local buy-it-cheap store. Hollywood will tell you that your joy will come in the form of big bucks, glitzy clothes and bodies, and super stardom. The government will tell you that it comes in the form of power and the drive to always be the best, the most competitive, and to be a member of the wealthiest, the most blessed nation in the world. The church will tell you your happiness will rest on certain beliefs and they will also tell you that if you don’t believe as they do… your misery will be eternal. There are voices everywhere, billions of books, and ongoing ads that will tell you how to be happy and how to live a fulfilled life. But what do you know beyond what you are being told?
I don’t presume to have answers. I am still a seeker myself. But I am confused by the amount of suffering I witness in the land of the free, and I realize time and again that we aren’t truly free until we make peace within our own souls. What might happen if in schools we began to offer spaces of conversation with our youngest
about who they are and what matters to them? What if classes were taught on what it is to feel and to think and how worthy it is to seek understanding of our truest selves for our own good and the good of others? What might shift if the church were to honor the Divine light in everyone? What could give way if we each eliminated as much negativity as possible and in place added gratitude, beauty, silence, and generosity? What might happen if we each spent as much time and energy on becoming ourselves as we do on trying to be something or someone we are not? We are losing each other because we have lost ourselves. Isn’t it time to figure out what we can put down and what we need to take up? Can’t we agree that we have tried for lifetimes to make peace with war, to improve systems with more systems, to give more power to the powerful, to judge rather than seek understanding, to place blame rather than do our own work? Can’t we agree that these practices are still in place and that humankind continues to suffer? Can we please open the door to risking what is broken for something that heals? Can we please begin to let go of what continues to tear us apart for all that can possibly begin to unite us as people who are not fearful of the ultimate goodness of our humanity.
Beneath the armor we think we must wear, there is a vulnerability much more secure.
Let’s meet there.
day, children who cry all day, children who cannot speak English, children who know not how to play without hitting and cursing. And I have worked with countless adults who have no idea what they love, who they love, or how to live a life that is purposeful and fulfilling. I have worked with the jobless, the homeless, the aged refugees, and teen parents. I have walked alongside of the suicidal and the depressed ones who know not how to find lightness of spirit.
And I have done my own inner work… the work that rises out of sleepless, dark nights. I have looked into the face of my demons, had them spit upon me, torment me, and pull me deeper into the false beliefs that they own me and because of that there is no goodness or worth in me.
And I’m wondering how do we each find our way and who teaches us, who guides us toward our own sacred ground? I have lived a life of blessing that is full of voices that nurture and heal and hold out hope. I have the joy of parents who wanted me, loved me and while well into their seventies they still pray for my life and my dreams. I have friends who are true, who offer words and music and laughter and soulful wisdom that keep the flame flickering. And yet, so much of my tending has been with those who have not had such beginnings or nourishment. So how might we, as individuals and as a society, more carefully attend to these dear ones? We have systems in place. We have non-profit organizations. We have churches and schools. We have volunteers. We have public service organizations, social workers, counselors, medical teams. We have lots and lots of really valuable, loving, well-trained professionals everywhere giving of their time, talents, and expertise… giving of their lives…to the service of others. And yet… we still have poverty in our nation, we still have homeless sisters and brothers; we still have an epidemic of depression. There is murder each and every day. Children lose their beautiful innocence well before they go off to kindergarten, and our treasured elders line hallways of their own homeless shelters yearning to be seen and loved.
There is deep need spinning in the human soul. And it is here we must find ourselves. It is here we must take ourselves. What feeds you? No. I’m not talking about hobbies or friends or vacations. I’m talking about if everything was stripped away from you and you were bare naked in mind, body, and spirit…what would sustain you? What would give you life in the purest sense of the word? Because, this is the conversation I believe we must bring to the forefront. The strange powers of the world will tell you that your happiness is wrapped up in what you see on television and in the local buy-it-cheap store. Hollywood will tell you that your joy will come in the form of big bucks, glitzy clothes and bodies, and super stardom. The government will tell you that it comes in the form of power and the drive to always be the best, the most competitive, and to be a member of the wealthiest, the most blessed nation in the world. The church will tell you your happiness will rest on certain beliefs and they will also tell you that if you don’t believe as they do… your misery will be eternal. There are voices everywhere, billions of books, and ongoing ads that will tell you how to be happy and how to live a fulfilled life. But what do you know beyond what you are being told?
I don’t presume to have answers. I am still a seeker myself. But I am confused by the amount of suffering I witness in the land of the free, and I realize time and again that we aren’t truly free until we make peace within our own souls. What might happen if in schools we began to offer spaces of conversation with our youngest
about who they are and what matters to them? What if classes were taught on what it is to feel and to think and how worthy it is to seek understanding of our truest selves for our own good and the good of others? What might shift if the church were to honor the Divine light in everyone? What could give way if we each eliminated as much negativity as possible and in place added gratitude, beauty, silence, and generosity? What might happen if we each spent as much time and energy on becoming ourselves as we do on trying to be something or someone we are not? We are losing each other because we have lost ourselves. Isn’t it time to figure out what we can put down and what we need to take up? Can’t we agree that we have tried for lifetimes to make peace with war, to improve systems with more systems, to give more power to the powerful, to judge rather than seek understanding, to place blame rather than do our own work? Can’t we agree that these practices are still in place and that humankind continues to suffer? Can we please open the door to risking what is broken for something that heals? Can we please begin to let go of what continues to tear us apart for all that can possibly begin to unite us as people who are not fearful of the ultimate goodness of our humanity.
Beneath the armor we think we must wear, there is a vulnerability much more secure.
Let’s meet there.
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