what it means to Coexist … (05/01/13)
“Loneliness is not a function of solitude.” ~ David Foster Wallace
There is little doubt that the only way our species will ultimately survive is if we choose collectively to consciously coexist …
But what in the world does this mean, and how in the world can we each go about doing so?
The answer to the second question — how to effectively Coexist — will become quite obvious by the end of this post. The answer to the initial question — what coexistence IS — is best answered by first looking to what coexistence is not …
Coexistence is NOT the “tolerance” that judges another as “less than” while turning away & passively “putting up” with their beliefs.
Coexistence is NOT the “patience” that judges another as “wrong” while condescendingly waiting for them to “wake up”.
Coexistence is NOT even the “respect” that extends a hollow & vapid politeness to those we find “wrong” or “strange”.
Real, deep-seated, practical Coexistence is not a feeling that you have,
… or a thought that you entertain,
… or even a belief that you adopt.
No, my Friends … Real COEXISTENCE is something that you actively DO.
Real COEXISTENCE sees the “crazy” homeless man, walks right up to him, and extends him the open Kindness he deserves.
Real COEXISTENCE hears the religious rantings of the zealous believer, walks right up to him, and extends him the gentle Forgiveness he deserves.
Real COEXISTENCE watches the wealthy neighbor be cold & callous to those less fortunate, walks right up to him, and extends him the pure Compassion he deserves.
Real COEXISTENCE listens to lies of the power-hungry politician, walks right up to him, and extends him the unconditional LOVE he too deserves.
We aren’t going to make it much further down the path of division & damnation, rejection & ridicule. We are truly ONE — ALL of us; those who look like us and those who don’t, those who think like us and those who don’t, those who believe like us and those who don’t.
We are truly all ONE, & it is high time we ALL started acting accordingly — to ALL.
Amen … Let it be so.
LOVE is Coexisting, and coexisting is a verb — and a radically courageous verb, at that …
So, got LOVE?
“I don’t know what I am supposed to do …
I only know what I can do.” ~ James T. Kirk
“If someone thinks that Love & Peace is a cliche that must have been left behind in the 60’s, that’s his problem … Love & Peace are eternal.” ~ John Lennon
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