We have so much to be
thankful for in this country. Yet one thing that
is often lacking is our sense of perspective.
Unless we have traveled around a bit, we tend to
take an awful lot for granted. And viewing
the lives of others in dire circumstances,
whether within the boundaries of our own country
or in distant lands, is almost surreal at times.
We are so inundated by creative media, whether
it be through film or slick advertising, that we
develop mental filters or wander around in a
constant state of overstimulation. Either
way, a certain amount of numbing is bound to
exist within the average American. When we take
time to deeply contemplate however, whether it
be through quiet walks in nature or during some
other form of meditation, we allow perspective
to emerge. If we ponder the trees and sky
and the ages of rocks, we can't help but be
amazed at our place within the greater scheme of
things. Conversely if we remain insulated
in our homes with electronics being the sole
means of connecting us to the outside world in
any significant way, our perspective is
distorted and we lose our sense of place. We
lose our sense of the sacred.
While routine is a human
comfort, getting stuck in a rut creates inner
disturbances that affect everyone around us.
We all know the feeling of coming home too tired
to do anything but "zone out." Yet when we
take a tired mind and subject it to a television
set, our perspective becomes tinged with the
reality presented to us through this medium. We
all have a deep need to express something
uniquely our own. But when we give away a
great measure of our day to another for scale
wages, sapping most of our energy in the
process, there is little time left over for
indulging creativity. As this becomes a
pattern, we lose sight of our desires and our
days blur together like the view from the window
of a fast-moving train.
In our frustration, we
inwardly or outwardly blame others for our
condition, especially those dependent on us. We
curse our dead-end lot. We lose perspective.
Then when guilt sets in as it inevitably does,
we may seek to assuage it through financial
means, again feeding into the cultural
consumerist trap. We give from the pocketbook
while forgetting that the best present
can be our authentic presence. And
though this knowledge may be deeply buried
beneath our conscious awareness, it is key to
getting us to a place of gratitude and
connectedness. When we make time for
expressing our uniqueness, our genuine selves,
we feel more settled in our skin. We don't
have to pretend. This kind of peace has a
price beyond measure. We no longer need
things to make us happy. We begin to
accept ourselves as part of the human race.
This acceptance can foster self forgiveness when
we fall out of balance. We can then more
easily forgive others when they do not meet our
expectations, for we see that they, too, are
only human. This perspective leads to
compassion which leads to acceptance of
differences, whether between close relations or
countries and cultures.
Marva Collins, famous for
her work with Chicago's troubled inner city
youth, says, "Until kids decide, 'I am a
miracle. I am unique. There is no
one else exactly like me,' they can never draw
the conclusion, 'Because I'm a miracle, I will
never harm another person who's a miracle like
me.'" This is perspective, pure and
simple. We all lose it from time to time.
Yet in becoming conscious that it is within our
power to alter our perspective, we create
the potential for movement, growth, healing.
We can soothe the raw places in our psyches and
in our souls. We can mend fractured
relationships. We can heal our world, one step
at a time. For honoring other people leads
to honoring all forms of life, including the
life-giving planet itself.
What does abundance means
to us? Is it heavily skewed to the
cultural ideal, money? Or do we measure
the fullness of our cup with love, health and
well-being, our relationship with our partner or
our children? Clean air, clean water,
space to move; the scent of pine or wood smoke
in the winter? We can focus on what we
lack or we can change our perspective to one of
abundance by expressing gratitude for all we
deeply value. We can be aware of our
levels of abundance relative to that of others.
We can choose, in whatever ways present
themselves to us, to give to those less
fortunate. We can keep our eyes open to
the large and small sufferings going on around
us and share from a heartfelt place. We
can gather the lost and weary to our dinner
tables. We can make or purchase gifts
which reflect something abiding deep within us
rather than frantically scrambling to gather
masses of meaningless treasures. We can
take time to connect to nature and offer prayers
to heal humanity. We can feel the fullness
of gratitude for our abundant lives while
becoming aware of whether our material abundance
is contributing to or taking away from other
countries, cultures, and even the planet itself.
Let our offerings in thought and deed be
genuine, remembering that others learn from our
example more than they will ever learn
from teachings we discuss but do not put into
practice. Let our very most basic gift,
that of life itself, continue to be a more pure
expression of who we are, in all our unique
glory.
