“The goodness you see in me is merely your reflection” … Lynn De Vera
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On the day you were born there was no hatred, no judgement, no fear, not even love.
Things simply were what they were, and you existed.
You spent much of your day crying. Why? Because that’s what one day old babies do.
Your parents cradled you in their arms, hoping to still the suffering in your cries, but they didn’t realize that you were simply announcing your arrival in their world, because that’s what one day old babies do.
You were someone to be dealt with. No excuses. You were someone that demanded attention, triggered response, required results, and didn’t stop until a satisfactory ending was reached
Even though you demanded results, you did so with complete detachment from outcome. You simply were who you were.
You were powerful. You fiercely embraced your eternal spirit, and you were a gift of unconditional love.
Life smiles when this unconditional love spreads from one person to another. When sincerely put into motion it is unstoppable.
Or is it?
Are any of us the same person we were many, many years ago? Perhaps yes. Very likely, no.
In the eyes of our creator nothing has changed. We are Divine Spirit, and always will be.
Through the eyes of our world everything has changed. We are infinitely challenged in an endless search for answers.
Why do we cry uncontrollably when the world is ours, and then subdue our cries when we perceive the world to be our enemy? What happened to our original selves, our innocent spirits, our crying eyes that at times shone with tenderness that only comes from deep within?
Have we forgotten who we are?
What darkness is in the hearts of those who wage war with poison gas? What ignorance is in the minds of those who inflict punitive measures to ensure a political point? War is nothing new. It’s an undeniable part of all history.
Your original self would not accept that. Your present self should not accept that.
Innocent people are dying, and yet killing does not end killing, violence does not end violence, hatred does not end hatred.
The world is in dire need of a rebirth of originality.
You can make a difference.
1: Solve this equation:
186,000(miles per second) x 86,400(seconds per day) x 365(days per year) x 13,000,000,000(light years to the edge of the Universe) = ???
I can’t even begin to comprehend the vastness of what I see above me in the night sky. What would happen if we spent more time searching in the stars than wrapping our finger around the trigger? Might we end up in a communal embrace of shared origin? Look into everyone’s eyes as though you are looking at your God, and you will find reasons for peace.
2: Read:
Even the Sunday paper sometimes offers a few nuggets of wisdom, but the cries of those suffering from man’s inhumanity to man will have you in tears. Read ‘A Woman In The Crossfire’ by Samar Yazbek, and ‘The Massacre At El Mozote’ by Mark Danner. Cry, and get angry. The world needs voices that shout “Enough. No more madness”. And then read anything by Thich Nhat Hanh, and strive to be a voice of reason in a world of confusion.
3: Write:
You may disagree with every word I write. Such is life. Nonetheless, I’m still writing, not for fame or fortune, but because my original self has a few things to say, as I’m certain does yours. Tell the world what you see. Show the world what you feel. Take advantage of the generosity of those who offer opportunities to speak. No one needs a publisher these days. Good or bad, the world needs to hear cries against the madness, not just the cries of the innocent. Write something today. Write to yourself. Write to one person. Change will come, one word at a time.
4: Show gratitude:
Life is precious. Every step we take is an opportunity to move forward. Why do we continually repeat the mistakes of our past? Why does so much of our world suffer in the darkness and pain of hatred when love is ours to embrace? If we were thankful for everything we have would we feel the need to conquer others? If we could solve the equation, would we not embrace everyone we meet? Smile, and say thank you, all day and every day, for everything. Life, every bit of it, is a gift.
5: Be mindful:
Share your goodness with the world.
Know that there is much suffering in the world, and for many of us, it is far worse than anything we’ll ever encounter in life. Our world is young children with empty bellies, innocent peasants savagely massacred, suicide bombers dying to create chaos.
Know that in a difficult world kindness has great power.
Our world is opening a door for an elderly person, volunteering your time at a food bank, finding ways to comfort others even when we are struggling ourselves.
The power of the human spirit is real. Use it for good. Use it often. Shed some tears, then spread your joy.
6: Be adventurous:
Go out into the world knowing that you have the power to create positive change.
If we dare not venture, things will always remain unexplained. Too many questions eventually paint a pretty picture with no Soul.
Venture into the arms of the Universe in search of secrets. You will never be misled, nor denied. Open your heart to sorrow, and you will also find reasons to smile.
Share your smiles. The world needs to see its goodness reflected in your joy.
7: Practice kindness:
Each moment that passes is an opportunity for kindness, be it a kind act, kind thoughts, or simply a pleasant greeting for a stranger.
Assemble your thoughts with a thankful heart, and you will be powerless to pursue anything but kindness in our world.
Gratitude is not proclaiming that the battle is won. It is not deep pockets if those pockets are filled with the anguish of others. It is not empathizing with the plight of our world, yet taking no action.
Gratitude is kindness toward all others, a recognition of all beauty, a desire to place the good of all mankind above all else.
Gratitude is remembering who we truly are.
Exceptional, kind, giving, loving, caring, and sharing individuals.
Gratitude does not judge. Kindness is colorblind. Equality is like the stars in the night sky. It may have burned out long ago, but it is still a powerful force in the Universe. One that we cannot deny, no matter how hard we try.
Find your original self. Recognize familiarity. Let it speak.
Smile at your reflection.
Change the world.
