Much of the reason there’s so much anger in the world is there’s so much projected hatred. Projected, because what isn’t faced comes from within a person and the person projects that anger as hatred onto anyone or anything that doesn’t agree with their biases.
Anger is always a sign of something deeper—unreconciled frustration, sadness, fear, intense and primal dissatisfaction, disappointment, disheartenment.
I’ve learned long ago now to not listen to, and to especially distrust, voices that always seem mad. There’s too much oxygen given to angry voices today, and it’s a great pity that the algorithms prefer antagonism.
The spiritual life is closer than we think. But the angrier we are, the further it is from our grasp. The saddest thing is there are people who literally exist for antagonism who stand as so-called spiritual paragons—leaders—but they lead us into an abyss away from the hope of joy.
The spiritual life that we all deep down crave is found in the inquiry into our anger. To simply ask a curious, non-judgmental why? Could it be that the very things I’m angry about remind me of the things I don’t like about myself—or, that reveal my weakness? Am I livid because, secretly, and deep down inside, I’m ashamed of how I didn’t act when I could have? Am I afraid that justice won’t ultimately be done? Does this cause me to take justice into my own hands?
The moment we’re settled within ourselves about the things of life we cannot change, that’s the moment we’re spiritually free—nothing materially is holding us to ransom.
Spiritual freedom comes when we’re materially free.
This is not about not caring. It’s about caring for the things that really can be impacted for good. It’s about being wise enough to carve out time, energy, and resources to make a difference, however tiny it is, in this world. It’s being satisfied with small wins.
It’s about caring for the right things in the right way, because, let’s face it, there are a million and more issues that will capture our attention and divide us from all effectiveness.
We’re nothing if we can’t come from a spiritual base of stillness, appreciating the simple things, grateful for the mercy extended to us, and committed to working for good. That goodness must come from a heart that feeds on goodness.
The spiritual freedom in life that is so much closer than we think is hidden, like the Kingdom of God, in our own hearts—it’s that close, it’s IN us. It’s within reach and it’s within our capability.
The key is going within, being honest, learning to stay honest, resisting all self-judgment.
We need to turn from pointing the finger at others in criticism to seeing the beauty that resides in ourselves.
When we view ourselves as lovely and acceptable, we see the good in others.
When we know how much mercy has been extended to us, we extend mercy to others.
Photo by Michael Fenton on Unsplash
No comments:
Post a Comment