Peace – Page 3 – The Future is Open

April 16, 2020

The Spirit of the Lord

“Jesus called his disciples to create a new transformed Earth, a kindom of equality and inclusivity, where all men and women could live together in justice, mercy, and peace. His consciousness of the whole evoked a genuine revolution in cosmic and social relations.”

— A Hunger for Wholeness: Soul, Space, and Transcendence by Ilia Delio, OSF

Contrast this spirit with what we are witnessing around us each day as those on the margins suffer most from the Covid-19 pandemic. This is just one more example of why we don’t deserve to be called a Christian nation or even a moral nation. To their credit many of our states and nation’s governors are doing their best to bridge the gap. Nonetheless folks are falling through the cracks in a nation where money is valued more than people. The paycheck protection program is one more shining example of how our leaders bail out Wall Street and stick it to Main Street. The funding is already depleted. Contrast our own national priorities with those other nations around the globe who are putting their citizens first.

Some politicians are calling for the establishment of universal basic income for all citizens. Not surprisingly some say this would incentivize the less fortunate to stay home and not seek work. These politicians have lifetime pensions which are their own universal basic income and not the $2,000 dollars a month that’s being proposed but salary and benefits in excess of $174,000 per year.

We always have lots of money to bail out Wall Street or start another war but nothing for the poor souls in our midst. These are the folks who call themselves conservative and cloak their greed in patriotism and pseudo-religious trappings.

‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
Matthew 15:8

April 15, 2020

Hope for today

I just finished reading Ilia Delio’s book which I reviewed previously and there are a treasure trove of ideas and quotes in the book but one that stood out for me is the following.

“On the whole, I find that younger generations want to help make the world a better place. Many Gen Z-ers express a desire for a just and sustainable world and are concerned about world poverty and hunger. They have an inclination toward catholicity without realizing it, expressed for them as a desire for inclusive, ecological, and planetary life. These concerns are not necessarily driven by institutional religion but by an inner sense of belonging to a whole.”

— Birth of a Dancing Star: My Journey from Cradle Catholic to Cyborg Christian by Ilia Delio

Young people aren’t burdened by the tired old labels that boomers are. What concerns them is creation and the care of it. They’ve frequently been referred to as the nones because they have no religion but they do have this inner sense of belonging to the whole. They see the world as interdependent.

March 31, 2020

Beside still waters

This pond which is a short distance from my home is one of my frequent haunts when I’m out walking. Lately with the need for more social distancing I find myself here more often because very few people come here. It’s on the edge of Mount Prospect Cemetery and not many people walk in the cemetery. Some folks may consider that walking in cemeteries is morbid but it’s a place of peace and contemplation for me. The cemetery and the neighboring pond are places where silence abounds. Herman Melville once said, “silence is the only voice of God.” I find God as I understand God in the silence too.

I find peace in the silence. I don’t watch the news. The cacophony of the pandemic is too much for me. I spend my time writing, walking and praying. Prayer walking is my best form of meditation. When I’m at home I listen to Taize and Gregorian chant interspersed occasionally with Carlos Santana. I’ve long considered Santana’s music very spiritual. I will keep walking and praying and listening to the silence. Mount Prospect and this pond have become my sanctuary.

March 29, 2020

Forgive them Father

Those are some of last words of Jesus as he was dying on the cross. Rather than condemn his torturers and murderers he forgave them. Gandhi also forgave the man who killed him. There are other stories like Maximilian Kolbe, Oscar Romero and others who spoke truth to power and willing gave their lives in the service of love. On this Sunday morning when normally I’d be on my way to Mass I thought of forgiveness.

I forgive those who have labeled this pandemic a hoax, I forgive those who have used the pandemic to fleece their customers. I forgive those whom I saw playing five on five basketball in the park after we were requested to keep our distance. I forgive those politicians who put party above the welfare of the world. I forgive those who have brutalized our mother earth that unleashed this pandemic. I forgive myself for judging others. I forgive myself for a lack of faith that there will be a positive outcome. I forgive our generation who has left this world a mess for our children and grandchildren.

March 22, 2020

A walk in the woods

Yesterday afternoon I went for a walk in the woods. I was on an old trail that used to be the haunt of four wheelers and snowmobiles. I don’t think its used much anymore. It was just what I needed in the midst of this pandemic. Luckily for me I live in a small village a long way from any major metropolis. Yet, I feel the anguish and anxiety of people who I will never know in this life. The woods and its’ trees have always been a cathedral for me. I feel closer to God when I’m in the woods. Sometimes I want to hold hands with Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh and retreat into the woods forever. That’s not realistic perhaps but it’s a yearning that I have. There is also a small pond near my home and I like to go there and just sit next to one of the large trees that are adjacent to the pond.

Today is Sunday. It’s the Fourth Sunday of Lent and other years I would be on my way to Mt Irenaeus for Mass and brunch but today that’s all a memory as churches and retreat centers are closed. Instead I found myself re-reading quotes from Thomas Merton who is one of my favorite authors. I’ve loved Merton most of my adult life and his writing resonates with me. Like him I am drawn to mystical prayer. In the midst of this chaos and suffering there is a spirit that some might call God. Some may call it a higher power and others may only long for peace and communion.

“Whether you teach or live in the cloister or nurse the sick, whether you are in religion or out of it, married or single, no matter who you are or what you are, you are called to the summit of perfection: you are called to a deep interior life perhaps even to mystical prayer, and to pass the fruits of your contemplation on to others. And if you cannot do so by word, then by example.
Yet if this sublime fire of infused love burns in your soul, it will inevitably send forth throughout the Church and the world an influence more tremendous than could be estimated by the radius reached by words or by example.”
― Thomas Merton, The Seven Storey Mountain

March 19, 2020

Look for the helpers

As this global pandemic appears to threaten us all it is easy to lose hope. At least it is for me. Anxiety and depression can take their toll too. Because of where we live I’ve been able to walk outside quite a bit and that has helped. Most people are keeping themselves socially distant. That’s good for everyone but sometimes social distance has become emotional distance. On Tuesday morning when I was beginning to despair I received a text message from a friend who volunteered to take my place in the local food pantry. She reasoned that being younger she’d be less susceptible to the virus. This moved me to realize that despite the angry rhetoric of some folks there are really wonderful people who think of others before themselves. It reminded me of a quote I recently saw on social media.

“Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”
– Fred Rogers

Even though you may be shut in or locked down you can help with an encouraging word or a smile. You can send an email or write a letter to someone you know. One of the ways I’ve been helping is using the Gratefulness website to send an e-card to someone you know . I’ve been prayer walking and practicing yoga too. I believe that positive energy can make a difference in the world. There are many ways to help. You’ll be sure to find the one that works for you.

March 15, 2020

Focus your positive energy for good

Today I saw in the news that the President of the United States is asking that Sunday March 15, 2020 be a day of prayer. That’s a great idea and coming from anyone else it probably would have been better received. He has after all been an incredibly divisive person who has done much to discredit the press, science and anyone else who has disagreed with him. However, that is not important now. What is important that we focus our collective energies on stopping this pandemic. We have seen many examples around the world of people reaching out to help others in their midst. Whether you are a believer or not is not important but each of us is made of energy and we can focus that energy in positive ways to stem and perhaps change the negative energy around us.

As an older person I’m very concerned for my own personal safety and as a person who could be a vector for the transmission of this deadly virus. I’ve been washing my hands much more than usual and use alcohol and bleach wipes which have dried my skin. I’ve prayed because that is something that I am comfortable doing. A little religion goes a long way for many in this world and its been one of the most divisive sources on our planet that anyone could ever imagine. Therefore my appeal is for a focus of positive energy. If you are religious that is fine. If you are not religious that is fine too. I practice yoga and I know that there are energy centers which we can summon and project out to help others and to help our world. I am hoping that you will join me in focusing this positive energy on the world around us.