"We must become bigger than we have been: more courageous, greater in spirit, larger in outlook. We must become members of a new race, overcoming petty prejudice, owing our ultimate allegiance not to nations but to our fellow men within the human community."
~ Haile Selassie
How do you feel about such a vision? Do you agree or do you hold a different view?
We see many people calling for protective isolation and more self-interest now. Closed borders. We also see a vast number reaching toward a larger unity and community, a yearning for harmony among all the world's people.
Either way, let's
become bigger than we have been, more courageous and greater in spirit.
How? We start by stopping something: judging.
Let's intend to refrain from judging today. To help us, let's consider and remember two wise sayings:
We don't know a person until we have walked a mile in their shoes.
and
Our hostilities would fall away if we knew the secret history of each person.
Today, if you start to judge someone, imagine stepping into his or her shoes. Pretend that a magical thing happens when you do.
Suddenly, you know every hurt, loss, insult, betrayal, disappointment, and disillusionment that he has experienced. You feel her fear. You know their
longings and dreams too.
If we did this, we would be stunned. For a time the pain would paralyze us. But then our hearts would warm, soften, and bloom open with love and compassion. We would weep for every brother and sister on the planet. We would understand their feelings so well that we would feel that we are them. We would be one with them, with everyone.
Until we have such a profound experience, let's at least catch ourselves when we start judging and stop. And imagine the rest if you dare.
Visioning,
Charlene
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