Unfolding as it should...
The only thing more powerful than hate is everything.
This week I want to turn my back on all the harsh and frightening news of humans behaving badly. My nervous system needs a break.
As real and awful as what some people are doing to other people, as important as it is that we face this, so that we can figure out how to respond, our response will not have power unless we also take the time and space to understand, and feel, our own power, the kind that comes through us, not from us.
There is a power, a power of quiet joy, of caring, of love, of what makes the earth turn on its axis, and green shoots emerge in love with the sun and the rain, that cannot be destroyed by anything born of fear.
Bad Bunny said that the only thing more powerful than hate is love. I would say something a little different than that. I would say that everything is more powerful than hate. Hate is lonely and stupid. Hate is boring. Hate doesn’t have friends. Accomplices, but no friends. Hate is missing out on everything of value in this life. Everything that is sweet, everything that is kind, everything that is fun.
Yes, hate can commit great evil but so what. Hate is a loser. Hate will lose.
Whether or not it is clear to me, I have to believe that the universe is unfolding as it should. Not because I’m a woo-woo freak who can’t face reality, but because I know that reality has the upper hand.
These are strange days. We listen, each one of us, for a call—our call. I can only hear my call, and you can only hear yours.
Our many calls and many hands join together to affirm an allegiance that has nothing to do with political parties, or any false divisions of skin color, ethnicity, religion, education, class or wealth.
It is an allegiance to the sweetness of life, in spite of all that is so daunting and sad. To what we know is possible. To joy that springs forth as if from a deep well of healing water. We drink.
.... Yes, I agree, but kindness really does have an upper hand. Last week I had the final meeting of a six-week writers' workshop I'd been facilitating. For the first time in the series, now that it was ending, I gave the participants homework. I handed each of them one of your greeting cards and assigned them to write to someone they value in their lives and tell them so. I'm always grateful for your inspiration.