The Road to Peace … (08/28/13)
It took a long time for me to wake up to LOVE; to appreciate the simple, irrefutable fact that we are ALL layered beings — each and every one of us weird yet wonderful; sometimes mean and sometimes majestic; often afraid and yet ever filled with courage.
It took a long time for me to focus on the wonderful and cherish the weird. It took a long time for me forgive the mean and honor the majestic. It took a long time for me to face my fears and leap with Kindness anyway. And yet, for the most part, I’ve arrived at this very sort of life … and it is such a Peace-filled place; such a Joy-filled way; such a Meaning-filled existence.
The “asshole dynamic” is still there, of course. There are still moments when I fulfill my own desires instead of striving to fulfill others theirs. There are still moments when I react to others with indignant explanation or emotional self-defense instead of simply being quiet and Caring. There are still moments when I get irritated & annoyed & upset instead of sending Compassion to my enemies. There are still moments when fear gets the better of me and I turn away instead of sacrificing my own comfort to serve.
I am, after all, walking around in a fleshly “machine” programmed for selfishness — programmed at its most primitive level to survive itself first, and then to ensure the survival of those others deemed friendly or comfortable thereafter.
AND YET, the more often I gently yet firmly challenge this subconscious, “reptilian” package of instincts (what some call “the ego”), the more often it takes a back seat and allows my Soul to drive.
*Every time I choose to give when I have little, it becomes that much easier to See that I am already Wealthy …
*every time I choose to smile in silence when tempted to rant or rage, it becomes that much easier to Feel that I am already at Peace …
*every time I choose to send my enemy Compassion while being attacked, it becomes that much easier to Know that I am Strong …
*& every time I choose to face my fears & set aside my concerns in order to Care anyway, it becomes that much easier to Remember that I am LOVE.
It is so exhausting to keep worrying about self and safety and success. It is so tiring to tear others down in “self-defense” and be torn down by them in return … so exhausting, and so counterproductive … so tiring, and so unnecessary.
Judging others is so easy, and yet we are ALL so much more than our judgments … Selfishness is so ingrained, and yet we are ALL so much more than ourselves.
There is another way to BE — another path to tread … It is the Way of Kindness — the Path to Peace. It is by far the more difficult road, and to follow its trail means to boldly face fear & danger. And yet it is a Road that will carry you and all those who walk it with you to destinations more beautiful than any you might have seen, and more joyous than any you might have imagined.
The Road to Bliss awaits us, my Friend …
Won’t you walk it with me?
(inspired by Shannon Fisher)
“This is how it works. I Love the people in my life, and I do for others whatever they need me to do for them — again and again, as many times as is necessary. In some cases, the need is not a tangible one. Sometimes another person has simply forgotten who they truly are and how much they are truly Loved. So what I do for them is simply remind them who they are and show them how much I Love them. And this isn’t any kind of burden for me at all, because I Love who they are very much, and every time I remind them of that Truth, I get to remember it with them.” ~ inspired by James Lecesne
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