Melanie DeMore - Sending You Light

Only one of me

David and Goliath: Conquering Our Giants

The Color of What We Deserve

“Doing what needs to be done may not make you happy,

but it will make you great.” 

(George Bernard Shaw)

A local man died recently in a head-on collision. He and his jacked-up pickup were passing at high speed when it was not safe to do so. Did he get what he deserved? What about those he killed along with him? Will Nazi war criminal, Oskar Groening, get what he deserves for his participation in the deaths of 300 000 people in Auschwitz? Will you get what you deserve for whatever hurtful words, actions, or thoughts you have produced? Will I?

“To strengthen your power of love,

Love those who do not deserve your love.” 

(Debasish Mridha)

When it comes to the very heated discussion of the topic, "give them what they deserve" we must make a choice. On the one hand the punitive eye-for-an-eye essence of deserving may provide some limited balance in the ego's system of justice. On the other hand, if our intent is healing and growth for humanity then all of us must seek something other than that which is deserved.  

“Love is that which gives of itself,

not because anyone needs it or deserves it,

but because that is what love does.” 

(Vivian Amis, I AM - The Key to Manifesting)

Perhaps it is time for humanity to frankly ask itself: do we want to reach our brilliant divine-spark-inspired potential? Do we want every human being to be whole, to use their gifts to glorify Love? Do we want to make the next big jump in our evolution to enlightenment? Or do we simply want the hurters, the evil ones, and the wreckers of peace to get what they justly deserve?

“Don’t give people what they want,

give them what they need.” 

(Joss Whedon)

Likewise, if we want to make a positive change in humanity's vector then we have to start responding to violence with what is needed, not with that which is perceived as deserved. By way of example, the punitive aspect of our "justice system" has very little power to bring healing and wholeness to the lives of the incarcerated. I'm not suggesting that there are no consequences to hurtful and destructive actions and attitudes; of course there are. There is, however, no hope for renewal in retributive restitution. 

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others,

faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms."

(1 Peter 4.10)

It does truly require a significant paradigm shift to think about responding with that which is needed rather than with that which is deserved. Grace is like that though - it portions Love out according to need. Sometimes we need gentleness, sometimes a smack in the head; never do we need the hollow promises and snake-oil medicine of retaliation. If some of us are bent and broken beyond repair then these should be cared for compassionately in a way that might bring wholeness. Never - never, ever, ever should punishment be called Love, for Love always aims for healing and new life.

Consider this week the judgment of deserving that you might cast upon yourself or others. Perhaps now is good time to begin a new way of responding to the injustices and hurts of the world.

I leave the last word to Jesus, a man who was big on giving people what they needed:

"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,

but to save the world through him."

(John 3.17)

The color of what we deserve...

we all deserve Love.

Weeds

and wheat

both

receive

sunshine

and rain

Grow

and give life

To Ponder Further:

- From the Bible: "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people" (Titus 2.11)

- From Baha'i:"This is the Day in which God’s most excellent favors have been poured out upon men, the Day in which His most mighty grace hath been infused into all created things. It is incumbent upon all the peoples of the world to reconcile their differences, and, with perfect unity and peace, abide beneath the shadow of the Tree of His care and loving-kindness." (Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh)

- From Islam: "The reward of goodness is nothing but goodness. (Al Quran 55:61)

The Color of Purpose

“He who has a why to live for

can bear almost any how.” 

(Friedrich Nietzsche)

My own thoughts sometimes rise up as the most significant challenge in my world. In all ways my life is rich and full: I have access to good food, clean water and sanitation, freedom from attack, wonderful family and community... And still there are times when I struggle to move ahead, to find the path. At these times my interior world does not feel rich and full.

“Believing in negative thoughts

is the single greatest obstruction to success.” 

(Charles F. Glassman, Brain Drain: The Breakthrough That Will Change Your Life)

There are two voices having a conversation in my head - one voice that tells me I will not succeed in my ventures, that I've never really done anything of value. The other voice reminds me that I, like you, am a gift of Love and light in the world. What happens in my day, the way I experience my relationships, depends greatly on which voice to which I am attuned. 

The heart of the matter is this: I do not think that we have the authority to waste our lives wallowing in self-doubt, pity, or victim-hood. I'm not saying that we can't do this, I saying Love does not empower us to do this. All of the dark thoughts that are generated work against Love's purpose for us - that we would use our gifts and experiences to live well, to create a world where all will live well.

When the dark voices convince us to be, and to act in uncaring ways, or connive us into believing in the "poor me" motif, then we forfeit any possibility of knowing ourselves and the Divine image within us. On the other hand, when Spirit whispers in our hear that we can do the impossible, that time and perseverance will erode all barriers, that we are beautiful and powerful - then it is that we discover our truest self in the mirror of Love's light.

"The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,

one who has insight draws them out."

(Proverbs 20.5)

You are here for a reason; you were created with intention; your life experiences are a treasure from which you draw your wisdom. Do not let your life go to waste; be intentional about your plans and grit your teeth until you have seen your dreams brought into reality. Then you will see the positive ripples your life sends out into the pond of humanity.

I leave the last word to the Hebrew Prophet Jeremiah:

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,

plans for welfare and not for evil,

to give you a future and a hope."

(Jeremiah 29.11)

The color of purpose...

a flying arrow nearing its target.

believe

you can

or

cannot

and it

is so

There is no evidence

that the

sun

ever

doubts

her

purpose

Shine

and be

sure.

To Ponder Further:

From the Bible: "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you." (John 15.16)

From Buddhism: "Your purpose in life is to find your purpose and give your whole heart and soul to it” (Extrapolation on Dhammapada, v.166)

From the Unification Church: "The purpose of the universe's existence centered on man is to return joy to God, the Creator." (Divine Principle I.1.3.1)

The Color of Wonder

To see a World in a Grain of Sand 

And a Heaven in a Wild Flower, 

Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand 

And Eternity in an hour.” 

(William Blake, Auguries of Innocence)

I stopped last week to contemplate the honey bees buzzing in our poppies; I could have watched them all day. They are a marvel to behold, though, I must say not quite so majestic as the massive bumble bee that landed nearby. It was nearly the size of my thumb - so large and at peace that it let me stroke its back. The contented sound of the bees at their labors, their leg sacks bursting with pollen, and the aeronautical miracle of bees in flight fill me with a feeling of wonder and awe.

While the macro world of bees leaves me breathless, equally so do the Kananaskis mountains impress upon my heart an overwhelming sense of reverence and admiration. While backpacking two weeks ago, and climbing up to the Haig glacier, I felt very small, humbled to be a part of a world so filled with infinite beauty. 

“The pursuit of truth and beauty

is a sphere of activity

in which we are permitted

to remain children all our lives.” 

(Albert Einstein)

Albert is correct in this - when we stand before the mountains and stars, or the bees in flight, the unfolding of a rose, or the geometric perfection of a spider web... the child in us squirms with innocent delight. To experience wonder is to let go of our pride, for it is in awe that we touch true humility. Humility is the quality wherein we acknowledge our truth, wholeness and brokenness, and the fullness of our potential, without needing to diminish someone else in the acknowledgment. So it is that in wonder we stand before the miracle of all creation and know that we too are a part of that miracle; we and all that is, come from the same source. 

“Wonder is the beginning of wisdom.” 

(Socrates)

To stop in the middle of the day and open oneself to the unfolding miracle of life that is happening all around us brings light and life to the soul. Too often we let ourselves drown in the pool of daily drudgery that is the news, the traffic, the stresses of our schedule; we forget to breathe, to listen, to look, to feel. We forget about the wonder of a combustion engine, the marvel of oil made into plastic, the incredible sensation of sunshine on our face, of a breeze stirring our hair... 

Be a child today - discover the essence of the universe in a grain of sand, listen to the bees, contemplate nature and humanity and goodness as life swirls around in this moment. In so doing you acknowledge the power of Love immersed in our world, weaving everything together.

I leave the last word to author Rachel Carson:

“The more clearly we can focus our attention

on the wonders and realities of the universe about us,

the less taste we shall have for destruction.” 

(Rachel Carson)

The color of wonder...

eyes and heart wide open.

An ant

carried a burden

ten times

its weight

and never

broke

a

sweat

And I

stopped

to take

notice

May Love

likewise

take

notice

of

me

Pause

Breathe

Listen

From the Bible: "Let all the earth fear the LORD; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him." (Psalm 33:8)

From Buddhism: 

"The whole of existence arises in me,

In me arises the threefold world,

By me pervaded is this all,

Of naught else does this world consist

(Hevajra Tantra 8.41)

From Shinto: "Even in a single leaf of a tree, or a tender blade of grass, the awe-inspiring Deity manifests Itself." (Urabe-no Kanekuni)