Getting to the Essentials

This is a fantastic "what if." I believe we must do what we can to live mindfully and joyfully -- and I mean accessing what makes us genuinely happy and passionate, not fleeting thrills -- and this positive energy will do its best to curve us in the right direction.

I hope this does not sound too cynical, but I believe quite strongly in the power of nature's cycles and flow. If we are toxic to this earth, we will eventually wipe ourselves out -- all wonderful things of human beings are wonderful only for human beings. Is that a sustainable dynamic?

I suppose I'm still sorting through my thoughts on this...

<abbr>Zoe´s last blog post..15 Day Creation Challenge</abbr>

Wow Zoe, I couldn't agree more, the ego-centrism will be our undoing unless we can place this awesome gift in right relationship to the whole of creation.

Rick,

I agree that there is something we can do each of us to influence the direction of the world. But I do not think it's on a macro level that our efforts will be seen, but rather their impact will be on a personal or micro level.

I recently read CS Lewis "Space Trilogy". The third book, "That Hideous Strength" (written in the 1940s ) has some applicable thoughts. In particular the idea that by sowing the seeds of love and honesty we maintain and build the strength of goodness in the world and that it is done one person, one task at a time. What I saw in this story is that many of the evils and fears the world faced as reported by Lewis apply to today as if Lewis was writing today. I suspect, not being and historian, that the same patterns of evil were swirling in the societies even 3000 years ago. So if I stop with this image of a struggle that never ends, I would be extremely discouraged. However, I also believe that during the same repetitive periods of negativity on the macro level the reverse is true. There has been a repetitive or the consistent presence of positive energy throughout the world, throughout history.

I feel inadequate to philosophize or pontificate on any of this -- I just know that for me, I believe that little acts of charity, love, and every little effort that I can put into the positive makes my life today better and in a sense I win the battle were today.

One last thought, my life view is significantly rooted in the underlying philosophies that are found in many of the 12 step self-help programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous. These philosophies and viewpoints were borrowed from many places throughout the world -- throughout history. Similar expressions about how each of us can significantly impact the directon of our own lives and thus the world, can also be found in the book "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle.

I may find time to cite the actual passages from his book, but for now, if anyone is interested in exploring a more optimistic view -- the titles I mentioned above as well as many more can show that there is a view and a way that goes beyond "the world is going to hell in a handbasket and there's nothing I can do about it". Thanks for listening.

PS -- coincidentally as I finish this comment there is a song on the radio called "Beautiful Life" by Ace of Base (I think)

Hi Mike,
Tremendous contribution to this discussion and to pull a slogan from the 12 step archive..."its one day at a time..."
I love that you shared the synchronicity of the radio tune that affirmed your message. Those signs, the meaningful coincidences, help me remember that there is more going on in this show then I can ever even start to grasp. I do not know the "Power of Now" and will track it down...

oh yeah...i forgot to mention the part that when we make that shift with our children and raise them with respect and dignity and freedom and love...we also offer those same gifts to our own inner child...and transform our own childhoods in the process...

Indeed Chas,
So often the Inner child is a cause for selfish immaturity in mid and late life because it has us unknowingly... One of the most accessible ways to engage the unconscious, but also a way as tricky as all parenting, is through relationship to the inner child.

Talking 'bout a revolution ...

As the world changes so much so rapidly, perhaps there will be a "new generation", like at the end of the 60s.

But we will be the old ones with the old ways by then. That may be hard and hurt, because we cherish our ways and our children.

The children will walk their own path. Even more so having experienced unconditional love in their childhood. If some day we cannot follow their road anymore it might signify that its the right one.

<abbr>Detlef Cordes´s last blog post..Stop the conversation strategy</abbr>

Detlef,
We can stand to the side and watch together...two grumpy old bloggers...
Love the idea that getting lost is the road...

beautifully put, richard. not such a big leap. what if we were to look at the world through the eyes of our innocent child-selves and forgive all that abuse and greed, neglect and injustice? what if we could envision, from that place of innocence, that hoped for reality and change course in an instant?

<abbr>moira´s last blog post..Feel Good Fast #3 Day 9</abbr>

Moira,
...to see with the eyes of the little ones...it feel so risky to the ego...like naive posture that will be taken advantage of...but we must

the sins of the fathers shall be visited on the sons for nigh unto seven generations. or something like that. i've always interpreted this as meaning that if you beat your kid, then your kid will beat his kids, and on and on and on...and i've always been determined to stop that buck right here and now.

william blake put it thus:

children of a future age
reading this indignant page
know that in a former time
love sweet love was thought a crime

i've always held that children's liberation is the last liberation, the one that will finally liberate all of humanity from the ghastliness of poverty, ignorance, and violence.

can we stop beating our children? yes, we can.

<abbr>chas´s last blog post..friday afternoon update! 13: the late edition</abbr>

Chas,
I've never heard heard the idea of the last liberation, but I like it a great deal...Fabulous contribution.

Find that shovel of yours!

<abbr>Jay´s last blog post..How to Go on a Criticism Diet- Part 2</abbr>

Forgive me, because your intelligence supersedes me in these areas, but what you are saying is because we (Society) cherish childhood in such a distorted manner that we are not allowing our children to grow naturally, the relection that will take place in the adult world for those children will possibly be nothingness? As stated by many scientists, the bible, and a couple crazies with sandwich boards? In a sense we are contributing to the end days through the fear of the unknown. Seems paradoxical that the fear of our children growing up in this world, could lead to them not growing up at all. My head hurts a little. :-)

<abbr>Jay´s last blog post..How to Go on a Criticism Diet- Part 2</abbr>

Hey Jay,
Just checking that you read Jeb's thrust which this is responding to? It ended with a question that to me asked is there anything that can be done? My response to that implied despair: certainly! Raise up a new and different future. Perhaps the answer to the problem is not to tackle it head on but to think and act outside the box. Again, it's an imaginative position, but one which can guide today with hope, can dispel the despair of an individual with little efficacy in the system that it is for naught. When the archetype of the Apocalypse is activated, what would your suggestion be for a continued forward march?

Bless you Richard...that is precisely the take on this issue I needed. May the creation begin.

<abbr>Jeb Dickerson´s last blog post..On the road to nowhere.</abbr>

Jeb, sometimes it's more then useful to work with the "as if" assumptions. We can only expect efficacy where we have both the authority and the courage to implement the needed change. While change, by its nature engenders resistance, there really does seem to be the magical tipping point where it becomes contagious. So where's my shovel?