Murder, mass shootings, children in cages, historic flooding, destruction of cities and farms, death and critical illness . . . How much do we have to take?
All. Of. It. We have to take all of it. I know that’s not what you wanted to hear, and I’m sorry because I know that hurts. But it’s the truth.
The good news is, we can change it. The bad news is, we have to change in order to change it. If you’re reading this, you have probably changed a lot over the past several years, done a lot of soul searching, left some toxic beliefs behind. You probably try every day to do your best to be kind, generous, understanding, gentle. And truth be told, you are leading the way for the majority of people who in their hearts really do want to change so they can be like you.
The small number of haters who are so eaten up by fear that their only reaction is to demonize anything that scares them (which is everything they can’t control) are flexing their muscles, clinging to power and barking as loud as they possibly can because they know they are weak, terrified and helpless, and cannot cannot cannot admit it.
Many of us are the survivors of their fear, rage and hate.
This is why we have moved through fear to the other side. Even the most anxious survivor often acts from a place of knowing that even in a situation where they have no control over anything external they still have enormous power. First, we can control how we react, and we can be a force for calm. Second, we know how to listen and can hear the fear behind the hate. Third, we can instantly recognize someone who has been abused, bullied, raped, beaten and beat down. We know how to reach into that pain and say, “Yep, I have been right there, I know where you’re at, I know how bad it hurts and I promise you that nothing you are afraid of now is worth a single second of your fear.”
Sisters and Brothers of Light, I am begging you, be the Ocean of Calm, the loving, soothing, stabilizing, fearless influence.
Don’t allow yourself to get swept into the maelstrom. Call out bigotry and hate–and call it what it is–but do so in a way that leaves the door open for grace. Ask more questions than you give answers. Listen deeply and without judgment. Don’t put yourself in danger, but accept that you have the power to help ease others’ pain, and the pain that most needs easing right now is the pain that has birthed the hate that is tearing this world apart.
In Social Media-land, post more messages of love, healing and hope than you post of frustration, division, fear, hate and anger. Allow your love to create ripples out into the ether. Do something every day to make your little piece of the world a better place, and tell us about it.
We have to normalize good behavior–kindness, tolerance, inclusiveness, love in all it’s colors and forms–just as surely as those who hate are normalizing bad behavior. And by normalizing I mean, come out in joyful and congratulatory support of people living their most authentic lives no matter what they are. Love all of it. Even if it’s just a couple of White people getting married. Hold up the joyful rainbow of all possibility.
Mourn genuinely when something like the Christchurch massacre happens. Mourn, and then stand with affected communities in solidarity of their right to be part of the Great Work of Weaving that we are currently engaged in. If you don’t know anything about them, learn about them. Mourn when racism takes precious innocent lives, and allow it to fuel your desire to see Democracy restored in this country and around the world.
Vote in every election, no matter how small. Employers are supposed to be mandated to give employees time off to go vote (unless that law has been changed, too) so grab a crew and go. Make it a party – take a sack lunch and drive around to the polling places with people, call it Vote’n’Tote. Or find out what it takes to vote early or by mail in your community, and make it happen for as many people as you know. Be tenacious and determined. Raise a ruckus when you have to.
Change is good.
Be the change you wish to see in the world. Do it for Ghandi, do it for Gaia, do it for your kids, for your parents, for everybody you love. Just do it. Open your heart to grace and lead those who are willing. We can choose every day to make the world a better place, and making that choice makes life more worth living than ever.
I really like this quote, “Love is impartial and universal in its adaptation and bestowals. It is the open fount which cries, ‘Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters.'” (from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures). Thanks, Gayla, for keeping the focus on love – it never runs out and can’t ever be used up.
Right you are! Love is everything. We have to get as good at love as we are at being judgmental and divisive. I love your quote! Powerful! Thanks for sharing!
I love this, Gayla. It resonates so much with the steering principle I try hard to keep as my true north: “I cannot do all the good that the world needs but the world needs all the good I can do.” I learned that in a beautiful song by Jana Stanfield but it may have other origins.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom! You are so generous.
Oh my goodness what a beautiful quote that is! You and Susan have just put icing on this whole cake for me today! That needs to be on a t-shirt. And coffee mugs to remind us every morning. Thank you for sharing your light and wisdom too – we all make the world a better place together.