And yet, for the most part I remember each & every day that we are a young species still heading in the right direction. Admittedly, we are heading in that directing very slowly (possibly too slowly — only time will tell), and yet at least we have set forth on that Great & Noble Journey — away from merely surviving as callous carcinogens on our planet, and towards truly thriving by becoming Caring Caretakers thereof.

And all things considered, I also have a positive outlook as far as my own life is considered. I do still get frustrated by my regular & obvious failings to effectively communicate & share The Way of Selfless Love to others, and I do often wonder whether I am making a significant difference at all.

And yet, for the most part I wake up each day thankful to be alive; thankful for even one more day to spread the message of “radical Kindness”; thankful to be even the smallest part in the Great Movement towards Peace that is blossoming ever-more-fully all over the Earth even as I write this post.

It is true that life is filled with wondrous Beauty, and it is just as true that life moves past us oh-so-quickly. Indeed, our lives are overflowing with Life in large part because death is always peeking at us from just around the next bend. I don’t know how much longer I’ve got in this fleshly machine currently called “Scaughdt” (something quite true for all of us — maybe we’ve each got another fifty years; maybe we’ve only got today) and yet, even while I hereby openly renew my vow to live fully & courageously in the moments I have remaining, I take this time to offer a few “Last Wishes” — things I would humbly request of the world were I on my deathbed, and were I asked to make them known.

As always, enJOY … and as allWays, do so in Peace.

S

WISH #01 … Replace your hatreds with acts of Kindness.

Initially, it is VERY important to realize that I am not only talking about war and racism and religious zealotry here (though I do indeed wish that nations would put down their weapons, and I do indeed wish that all bigots would put down their viciousness). No, this wish goes far deeper than that. I am talking about the “hatred” that affects all of us … I am talking about the innate & insipid fear that, unbeknownst to most of us, has seeped deep into all our Souls.

*I am talking about our hatred of the homeless as we look away when we pass them on the streets …

*I am talking about our hatred of strangers when we refuse to share with them a smile …

*I am talking about our hatred for those who have wronged us when we refuse to forgive them their trespasses …

*I am talking about our hatred for animals when we choose to treat them as feelingless commodities …

*I am talking about our hatred for the Earth when we engage in activities & practices that pollute Her waters, poison Her air and destroy Her natural treasures …

These are the hatreds that — unless rectified — will be our ultimate downfall. These are the hatreds that — unless halted — will be the bane of all humankind.

To heal these wounds, subtle yet oh-so-deep, we must do more than merely “think good thoughts” or “have warm feelings”. … To remove the deepest hatreds that come from our most insidious fears, we must actively show a Love that stems from our deepest Self … We must reach out to strangers & our enemies & the downtrodden with acts of radical gentleness — and we must flagrantly champion a Justice pure & true for the Earth and ALL her inhabitants.

We must do so or perish, my Friends … and it is my first Final Wish that we finally choose to do so, and that we choose to start doing so today.

“As you sincerely begin to stand in each other’s shoes, you will automatically begin to be kinder to one another. Having the humility to see beyond preconceptions & fears to feel another person’s Truth always leads to Love.” ~ inspired by John Steinbeck