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As If

April 11, 2007

ph_apr_capitolSunrise.jpg

Hope for the City ~ Canon 30d

I received a very thoughtful comment in response to my post from last week,
Do Not Live In Vain:

the enormity of the problems in our own country overwhelm me... the rest of the world boggles my mind. It makes you feel helpless and left wondering what can we do? But, I keep reminding myself that any little thing that each of us do has to add up to something - right?

The question she asks is heart-felt, universal, and the answer is so important. I posed a very similar question myself the night before at a party where many of my meditation friends were in attendance. I was discussing my blog with a friend who had yet to visit, and was describing the content I post here. I said something to the effect of, "Despite my faith, there are times I still wonder if we're beyond the point of return with humanity... with the planet. I know my spirituality helps me personally, and touches others who visit, but am not always sure it has a bigger effect collectively on the world. Do we have the capacity at this juncture to change the world?"

My friend immediately jumped in and said, "This is where we must act 'as if'. As if we are sure it makes a difference, Susan." He exhuberantly said we have no other choice, it's our calling.

I got to really thinking about his answer. I hope this doesn't surprise anyone... that someone who devotes so much of her creative energy to the spiritual "stuff" has moments of doubt like this. Life is a struggle, but oddly enough, I've found if I walk straight into the questions, the answers somehow find me.

When Aola's comment arrived in my inbox the next day, I was ready to share the following answer, which is a combination of many teachings I've learned from over my years of seeking. This isn't my wisdom, it is what so many who have come before us have taught ~ if only we could stop thinking only of ourselves and find faith in all that is good and right in each one of us, and in the world.

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Dear Friend,

Interesting that you posted this comment, because just last night I was at a party discussing this very question. The world is so broken, and so much of it is a mystery to us, but I think we're called to act "as if" all were well, and "as if" our actions DO add up. To believe what we do has no impact and doesn't matter will not bring us peace. It will just lead us to focus on ourselves, dig ourselves into a hole, and ultimately block us from others... possibly bringing us to the point where we become so narcissistically focused we only think of ourselves, which is precisely what every major faith on this planet encourages us not to do. As a matter of fact, I believe this IS what has happened in the here and now. The world, and our hearts are experiencing huge amounts of suffering because so many of us have chosen to narcissistically focus on my wants, my possessions, and my needs. Narcissism is the soul's antagonist.

I can only speak from my personal familiarity with the Buddha and Jesus' teaching, but understand that all the major prophets who have walked the face of this planet have taught of selflessness, compassion, and our interconnectedness. Can we know for sure this is TRUE? No... we can't. What happens after we die is the big unknown. I am reminded of an interview with Buddhist Nun, Pema Chodron who was asked the question if she knew for sure if Buddhism was "true" by Bill Moyers. She answered she didn't know for sure, that perhaps, when she dies she will find she was wrong, but what she does know is that leading a life focused on lovingkindness has made all the difference in her life, has brought her happiness, and brought her fulfillment. Any great teacher will tell you not to believe something just because he or she tells you it's true. Take their words and put them into action in your life.. test what they've taught you and see if it works for you. Do you become more peaceful, more compassionate, more understanding, less selfish, and less fearful? If so, then you're moving in the right direction, yes?

I share your grave concerns, and I wonder out loud quite a bit if we're past the point of redemption with this planet. Individually, we only have control over ourselves and our attitudes and how we treat ourselves and others in our circle. Start with radically accepting yourself. Start with holding yourself with compassion, and it WILL radiate out and touch the world around you. Ghandi said peace starts within each person... so did Jesus, as did Buddha.

I hope this helps. Writing it out this afternoon is helping me put it into concrete words.

Peace,

Susan

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I invite you to enter into a short meditation with me. In spite of what you know about this country, about the over-consumption, the selfishness and needless suffering in the world ~ take a look at the image of the capitol up there and twist the focusing ring of the soul's lens within you. Take a stab at shifting your perception of how things can be and will be in the world. See this country as if it is possible one day it will be a shining city on a hill. Hold the image up there in your mind's eye and consider the possibility it one day might be true. Imagine with me that one person, maybe even you, could change her perception of what is and isn't possible, and begin a movement of peace in the world. Imagine every capitol city in every country becoming it's own unique and shining city on a hill. See yourself acting as if each invisible act of grace you perform will indeed change the globe for good. Dream a dream that you are the shining city, and you are shining light out into the world.

Allowing our souls to move us toward peace ~ this is the great peace movement.
Allowing ourselves to see our souls and each other as divine ~ this is the great disarmament.


{Thanks, Aola for you question. And thank you Jim... for the affirmative answer I was searching for... and, thank you Tim, for encouraging me to post this!}

Posted by vincent at April 11, 2007 01:56 PM

Comments

Oh, yes, we can make a difference. Caroline Myss' book Invisable Acts of Power, is a good read about this and if your looking for inspiration, there it is. I think every caring human is going through the same doubts these days. It's absolutely scary, but we need to keep the faith and we shall begin to make big changes!! We'll never get there unless we try!

Great post Susan!!

Posted by: jzrart at April 11, 2007 07:43 PM

"faith is the substance of things hoped for and evidence of things unseen"

hmm...sounds familiar

perhaps most of us have lost faith no?

Posted by: rk at April 11, 2007 09:22 PM

RK ~ leave it to the bible to give us the perfect definition of faith ~ thank you.

JZR ~ Thanks for mentioning Carolyn Myss' book, I intend to pick up a copy and inhale it as soon as possible. Indeed, we can and we will make big changes!!

susan

Posted by: susan at April 11, 2007 10:58 PM

Amen.

We do have to try...

Posted by: dan at April 11, 2007 11:08 PM

"As if"....

If we all had this mindset, just imagine how things could (and would) be. Simple, but so very powerful. Thanks for sharing such a lovely perspective.

Posted by: jayne at April 12, 2007 07:24 AM

Your meditation reminds me of Romans 4:17 where Paul describes God as the one who "calls things that are not as though they were." I think you're right - that is what we are called to do. Imagine the power in that - speaking it "as if" it were, though it is not. Then following through to be that in our own lives. That is God in us - the hope of glory.

Posted by: candy at April 12, 2007 11:42 AM

Thank you for this post. Your meditation resonates within me.

Posted by: Joan at April 12, 2007 02:21 PM

Thanks again Susan for such thoughtful words and being such a strong Visual Voice for us in cyberworld.

I posted this on my blog, too.

Posted by: aola at April 12, 2007 02:31 PM

If not to the rest of the world, we owe it to ourselves to have hope. The answer Pema Chodron gave really says it all.

Posted by: Star at April 12, 2007 04:52 PM

Hope springs eternal............... Thank goodness.

Great meditation............ Thank you.

Posted by: janet at April 12, 2007 06:26 PM

One of the reasons I am so thankful to have stumbled into the faith community where I serve and worship God is because of reasons you have outlined here: we are clear about what we believe and why, but are perfectly willing to find out that we are incorrect about certain things. What really matters is how we live today; how we love one another, help those less fortunate, honor others with dignity, and protect and care for our resources. These things I am learning...and your post really resonates with me. My spiritual journey is leading me down a slippery slope towards a greater acceptance of myself (radical) and the subsequent spillover of empathy and attention to the world around me.

Thanks for your encouragement and wisdom here...amazing picture as well!

Posted by: beth at April 12, 2007 09:59 PM

I don't agree.

I think these things are here for us to stretch ourselves in compassion. When you take each individual or groups of people into your heart in compassion, it stretches your heart and opens you wider.

For me there is no more faith, no more hope, no more believing. There is just knowing. I just see things as they are, or so I try. To think that I need to change things is a delusional. Life is as it is and it is for the Buddha in me to receive it as it is, to allow it as it is, to accept it as it is and not to try and change it. The only thing that that will change is me.

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