Navigating a New World With Tingling Spidey Sense
A friend of mine reminded be earlier today that nothing is permanent. Fortunately, or unfortunately, this is true. Because, hey! We all want to hold onto the good stuff and rejoice when the unevenness fades away. Impermanence — we have this tug-pull relationship with it.
We are in such a time of upheaval. Intellectually, I know that the roller coaster of change is bringing about a new way. Honestly? I’m not sure I am liking where we are. But, when I am nonjudgmental, I can taste my concern, listen to my anger, and see the shimmer of fear. I’d recommend that you pay attention to how you are feeling; to discover why you are feeling what you are.
We live in a world that kind of reminds me of how I was raised: Because I told you so. I know what is best. But, really? I’m an adult. I think I know what is best for me. I also know the boundaries of “none of my business.” It seems others have not learned that a lesson.
The world has gone crazy. Boundaries are bulldozed. The government is up in people’s business where they should not be. And, not in people’s business where they should. The travesty is not over yet. In fact, my spidey sense is tingling is ways that have me on red alert.
A Thomas Merton quote comes: “to live prophetically, you’ve got to be questioning and looking at the factors behind the facts. You’ve got to be aware there are contradictions.” He calls us to question, discover, investigate, seek, reflect. To know that sometimes contradictions are the twisted, convoluted paths that lead us to understanding.
I get it intellectually — my heart is a whole different story. You may think that one or more of the decisions of the Supreme Court were a good thing. They fit within the way that you see the world and how it should be. Or, like me, you may see the unevenness of those decisions because they are totally not in the world view of how a government from the people and for the people should be acting.
Life is impermanent. Nothing stays the same. I have a question for you: Even if you believe any of these decisions are right ones, what happens when a freedom of yours is violated? Think it cannot happen? If the Supreme Court asks you to hold its beer, do. not. do. it. Because if rights violation can happen to the vast majority, it can happen in your small slice of the world.
This wild wonderful life has become so narrow. Too many crossovers into the land of not my business. But, this narrowness is not permanent. Permanent is a subjective thing: it can be as long as our inhale or one of the sacred’s inhales. I want this to be one of ours. But, for change to happen, we’ve got work to do.
So what do we do? We hold firm to what we believe. We look at those factors behind the facts. Stop reacting and respond with wisdom. We call people out with compassion. In doing so, we become the change where all rights are protected.
My spidey sense is tingling. Something is very wrong. This time I am going to pay attention. Sidestep the gas lighting of the vocal minority. Identify my biases. Listen to what is happening. Ask what I can do. Hold myself and others accountable. Be compassion in the truest sense.
Most importantly, I am going to act like my life and yours depends upon my listening to it…because it does.
Van is a professional speaker & author who weaves inner wisdom into all she touches. Her books are available @ www.wildefyrpress.com. Her most recent book, As Natural As Breathing: Being Intuitive, is available on Amazon. Contact Vanessa for life coaching, intuitive consultations, keynotes, and programs.
Website / LinkedIn Profile / Facebook / Twitter: @fyrserpent / ©2022
No comments:
Post a Comment