Being present with love in the age of intense divisions
I was recently reminded of the story of an epiphany of Thomas Merton. He is reported by his biographer William Shannon ad others to have said, “In Louisville, at the corner of Fourth and Walnut, in the center of the shopping district, I was suddenly overwhelmed with the realization that I loved all those people, that they were mine and I theirs, that we could not be alien to one another even though we were total strangers. It was like waking from a dream of separateness, of spurious self-isolation in a special world, the world of renunciation and supposed holiness…The sense of liberation from an illusory difference was such a relief and such a joy to me that I almost laughed out loud…There is no way of telling people that they are all walking around shining like the sun.” (spiritualtravels.com).
Thomas Merton has long been one of my spiritual mentors. The wisdom of his words has long challenged me. I have felt particularly in need of that challenge in an age of acute political divisions which strain cherished friendships. At times the strain threatens to create open wounds which mimic diabetic physical wounds which will not heal.
The fact that I choose to share opinions – often strongly held opinions – in a blog which is published on my web page, personal and business Facebook pages and often passed along in written form to those for whom I work leaves me open to the critique of those who are convinced that “my truth” is uneducated, uninformed and worthy of being dismissed as “horseshit”. My intention is to listen to these critiques with an open heart and mind and, yet, I find myself “hearing” a presentation of what is considered “the truth”. Obviously, it is entirely possible that my way of viewing the world and corresponding opinions about who we are as humans and what it means to take care of each other ignores some essential universal truths which my small mind cannot contemplate. Yet, I cannot agree to what does not make sense to me. As does Merton, it seems to me that when we function as strangers; as if we can act in a way which does not affect the universe(s); as if we can dismiss some as evil or undeserving of love; as if we can safely ignore the needs of all that comprises the universe (s) we are acting against the our essence. Still, I cannot dismiss the very divergent opinion of others without being correctly accused of being arrogant and self ri1ghteous.
The challenge is how do I recognize and honor that all others “are mine and I theirs” while not accepting “truths” which I am currently incapable of understanding. I “hear” many of those who are anti-immigrant, who think that some people are “just evil”, who believe that it is okay to bully and threaten other individuals and countries; those who honesty believe that no form of sharing resources more equally is workable; of those who believe that one race is superior; as those who can easily decide my opinions are dangerous and need to be silenced. I am “called” or “challenged by Merton to take the teaching of Jesus and others to love one’s enemy seriously. I am challenged to keep an open mind, to do all I can to engage others as the level of the heart, to not back off from those “who are mine and I theirs”. This is my understanding of the central teachings of the Buddha, Jesus and other spiritual teachers. Of course, perhaps I am blinded by own narrow history. Perhaps, like Merton, I will be walking the streets of Louisville, Pittsburgh, Tampa, or Dallas and have an epiphany which changes my sight and my hearing. Until then I will risk being naked with my thoughts and willingly open myself to the opinions of those who see and hear different truths while holding close to a believe that we belong to each other.
Written June 29, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
I was recently reminded of the story of an epiphany of Thomas Merton. He is reported by his biographer William Shannon ad others to have said, “In Louisville, at the corner of Fourth and Walnut, in the center of the shopping district, I was suddenly overwhelmed with the realization that I loved all those people, that they were mine and I theirs, that we could not be alien to one another even though we were total strangers. It was like waking from a dream of separateness, of spurious self-isolation in a special world, the world of renunciation and supposed holiness…The sense of liberation from an illusory difference was such a relief and such a joy to me that I almost laughed out loud…There is no way of telling people that they are all walking around shining like the sun.” (spiritualtravels.com).
Thomas Merton has long been one of my spiritual mentors. The wisdom of his words has long challenged me. I have felt particularly in need of that challenge in an age of acute political divisions which strain cherished friendships. At times the strain threatens to create open wounds which mimic diabetic physical wounds which will not heal.
The fact that I choose to share opinions – often strongly held opinions – in a blog which is published on my web page, personal and business Facebook pages and often passed along in written form to those for whom I work leaves me open to the critique of those who are convinced that “my truth” is uneducated, uninformed and worthy of being dismissed as “horseshit”. My intention is to listen to these critiques with an open heart and mind and, yet, I find myself “hearing” a presentation of what is considered “the truth”. Obviously, it is entirely possible that my way of viewing the world and corresponding opinions about who we are as humans and what it means to take care of each other ignores some essential universal truths which my small mind cannot contemplate. Yet, I cannot agree to what does not make sense to me. As does Merton, it seems to me that when we function as strangers; as if we can act in a way which does not affect the universe(s); as if we can dismiss some as evil or undeserving of love; as if we can safely ignore the needs of all that comprises the universe (s) we are acting against the our essence. Still, I cannot dismiss the very divergent opinion of others without being correctly accused of being arrogant and self ri1ghteous.
The challenge is how do I recognize and honor that all others “are mine and I theirs” while not accepting “truths” which I am currently incapable of understanding. I “hear” many of those who are anti-immigrant, who think that some people are “just evil”, who believe that it is okay to bully and threaten other individuals and countries; those who honesty believe that no form of sharing resources more equally is workable; of those who believe that one race is superior; as those who can easily decide my opinions are dangerous and need to be silenced. I am “called” or “challenged by Merton to take the teaching of Jesus and others to love one’s enemy seriously. I am challenged to keep an open mind, to do all I can to engage others as the level of the heart, to not back off from those “who are mine and I theirs”. This is my understanding of the central teachings of the Buddha, Jesus and other spiritual teachers. Of course, perhaps I am blinded by own narrow history. Perhaps, like Merton, I will be walking the streets of Louisville, Pittsburgh, Tampa, or Dallas and have an epiphany which changes my sight and my hearing. Until then I will risk being naked with my thoughts and willingly open myself to the opinions of those who see and hear different truths while holding close to a believe that we belong to each other.
Written June 29, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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