Compassion for “criminals” (February 17th) …
February 17 – Compassion for “Criminals”: Visit night court (or day court) today. While there, pay attention to the emotions that permeate the room. Be consciously grateful that you are there freely … Silently extend the prosecuting attorney as much Compassion as possible (From personal experience, I know that this is one of the more morally challenging jobs) … Extend the same Compassion to the judge as well. While it will be tempting to send the “accused” pity or sympathy, refuse to do so. Send them Compassion, yes, and yet do not make their plight worse by enabling them to feeling sorry for themselves. Send them Strength instead.
In my past, I have extensive experience with the thick fear that slowly suffocates every courtroom. Indeed, if the primary purpose of any space is to pass judgment on others, it can become nothing other than a vortex of dysfunction — a place where Love must either perish or flee.
We look up with “respect” for our legal system …
… without realizing that we are actually submitting to that external authority because of our subconscious fear of being judged by it ourselves.
We end up acting “correctly”, not from a desire to do real Good, but rather from a base-level fear of being punished by this system if we don’t “behave”.
We revere the judges and magistrates who are “wise” and “fair” …
… without recognizing the Truth that they are as flawed and as “sinful” as those they condemn; without realizing that in actuality there are no just external judges of our behaviors.
It is rough enough to realize the Truth that a significant percentage of our society’s “criminals” are wrongfully convicted*, and yet it is even more poignant to realize that any punishment provided “from above” is not only completely ineffective (because it entrenches the very low self-esteem that inspired the “crimes” it punishes) but also patently unjust (because those levying that punishment are just as “guilty” of other “crimes” just as egregious … There is little difference between the man who kills out of fear and the man who callously punishes that “killer”).
And so, I remember today that there is only one way to “repair” our broken judicial system (and believe me, it is irrevocably broken), and that is to completely ignore it – not as a selfish anarchist who roams the streets taking anything that he or she desires, but rather as a Beacon of Love who looks every day to lessen the suffering of others. The law was created essentially because a group of men “in power” didn’t believe in Love, and yet I know from firsthand experience that Love provides the only effective solution to any conflict – that Love is the only way to cleanse the system itself of its perverse failings of Justice.
Essentially, we must choose to go forth and be the change we wish to see. We must be the ones to cease judging others. We must be the ones who cease to condemn those behaving unusually (gossip) or “inappropriately” (criticism). We must be the ones to actively show others the true power of real Justice by having the courage to Forgive those who trespass against us – and to do so by returning their mistreatments with acts of Kindness.
Essentially, we must do our individual part (small yet every significant) to turn every courthouse in this country into a museum!
Gently refuse to judge …
Gently refuse to condemn …
Gently refuse to criticize …
Gently refuse to gossip …
Gently refuse to hold grudges …
Gently refuse to ignore the homeless …
Gently refuse attack your attackers …
And remember: while there are many ways to manage the inevitable conflicts that enter our lives, regardless of the “crime”, utilizing our court system is the least effective of those means.
Have the courage to seek a more loving (& therefore more effective) way!
See You when I see you …
… and until then, Be Now!
Scaughdt
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