Tag: Choice

Choose to Defiantly Live

I watched a fly caught in a web. It was very much alive, but as it squirmed the tighter the web grew. It was easy to see its black body against the white ceiling. Then I could see the thin frame of a spider making its way to the captive. The fly became even more frantic spiraling and spinning wildly. Impressed at its willingness not to die, I wondered if I should give aid. And then another spider began to move in. Recognizing its determination to live, I attempted to free the fly, but it was out of reach. As the two approaching spiders neared their prey, the fly broke free and catapulted down. I couldn’t see where it landed, and I am pretty sure it would be difficult to unweave the binding web. But I cheered for the sheer gumption displayed and the determination I witnessed. And then I realized I appreciated this defiant will to live because it is within me, within all of us. 

Some of us die in increments, leaving bits of ourselves to decay in full view and forsaking the gift of life to the torments of living. We admire the courage to live in others, but do we ever acknowledge this will, this strength in ourselves? Do we accept this gift of will, or do we squander it?

Some of us die by compromise. Piece by piece we give ourselves away, never knowing the preciousness of the time we are given.  Never accepting the power of our uniqueness. Never truly living.

We carry seeds of hope, clarity, courage and humanity necessary to the whole of us. If only we would choose to defiantly live and escape the bondages that hold us. 

Accept the power of being alive. There is freedom in that. 

photo Dewy spider web: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en

Ripple Out Love

On this day, the 80th anniversary of one of the most wicked acts of annihilation, the bombing of Hiroshima, we need to take stock of who we are or at least who we can be. The threats to humanity and the earth have never been greater. And the ignorance that has allowed it is not backing down.

We’re left with no recourse, but to manifest the greatness that still remains within us: the seeds of compassion and hope, the daring acts of kindness. These are not illusion. These are the tools of the people we are meant to be.

Yes, there’s much to overcome. But with practice and with perseverance we can still change the present course. 

If you’re still addicted to the mass media trap. Stop. There are many independent journalists worthy of our attention. Regardless, take time to cultivate the clarity needed to wade through the irrelevant and to maintain our highest vision. It is available.

And what is that highest vision? Throughout time there have been those who have upheld the strengths of humanity. They have urged us towards simplicity and to engage with the preciousness of life. We have been warned of the follies of greed and power, but more importantly we have been given great tips on the ways out of chaos.

There are two things that can help us now: the appreciation of silence within so that we may hear the directives of our hearts and the appreciation of people who share this understanding. We need community. Find those who support your humanity; those who have learned to make a way out of no way. We do not need to agree on everything, but we do need to ripple out love and understanding.

80 years later… survivors still speak about the horrors of allowing nuclear weapons

and there are people still talking about the possibility of peace…and as human beings, we have choice.

The Need for a Lifeline

Resistance to ICE in Los Angeles and elsewhere is uplifting. The decision to send National Guards and deploy Marines was predictable.  The authoritarian in chief and his allies leave no room for dissent. That has been proven for some time. Long before this moment, we have witnessed the government’s overreach by militarized police and national guard. This has been winding up for decades. Both parties enabled it.

The violence we are witnessing against the peaceful is not new. The removal of human beings, the stripping of human dignity, the forced separation of families is not new to our history or to human history.

And I suggest to you that we no longer have the luxury to ignore the reality before us. Israel and the United States have nearly destroyed international laws regarding civilian care. Enough with pretending it doesn’t matter or there is nothing to be done.

We are born and immediately given a name and with it a host of expectations. One of those expectations is that we are a self-contained unit destined for success or failure depending on our circumstances. We have been conditioned to accept this as “just the way it is”. 

Birth takes a mammoth effort. The effort we made to grasp that first breath was immense.  We demonstrated then, that we have the capacity to do the seemingly impossible.

It’s time we remember the power we hold and return to the wonder and the passion for living. That is our way out. 

There is no decree that says we must suffer and allow the suffering of others. This shunning of our gifts has not served us. That has been our choice. And now it’s time to choose differently.

Saturday, June 14. Stand for peace, freedom, community and love of all of our relations.