Real-ing in Hope
It’s 5:30 in the morning, I’m on the elliptical machine at my favorite gym, my music is jammin’, and my eyes are closed. Not because I’m all that tired, since this is part of my daily routine to which I’ve adapted. But more so because every television is set to a different news station and the latest 24-hour “newsloop.” Images of terrified expressions moments before mass assassinations in the Middle East, police brutality, professional athletes beating their girlfriends, kids killing one another. It’s a disillusioning way to wake up, to say the least. The visuals of these events invade our psyche from the moment we turn on our televisions, log-on to our Facebook, or check our email. So how can we regain a sense of safety in this uncertain world? How can we protect ourselves from the the violence, the injustice, the unspeakable torture occurring at any given moment around our shared globe?
My inclination is to plunge my head into the sand like an ostrich. Yet, I realize that would be to turn my back on the terrible, painful, and frightening suffering of so many.
And so I try to find a balance:
A balance between being informed about what is going on in this world and being wise about establishing boundaries by knowing when to turn it off, unplug, and restore myself through the safety of the present moment.
A balance between being cautious of the dangers in this modern world, and being hopeful and choosing to believe that there is still far more good than evil.
A balance between acting to make a difference through protest and advocacy, and finding peace in the quiet, yet meaningful gestures that occur everyday among strangers.
If we focus on finding the wrongs that exist, we will most surely find them, and we don’t have to look far or long. Yet, we will discover more power, more peace, more security, more hope by opening our senses to the beauty in this world…
the sight of the golden sun setting against the lavender sky…
the scent of jasmine hanging like a garland in the breeze…
the sound of children laughing and playing at the park…
the taste of the first strawberries of the season…
the brief touch of the old man’s hand as he holds open the door.
Discover your own magical moments. Those which are your reality. And though we continue to be impacted by the experiences of others, we also must strive to stay securely rooted in a sense of presence, a compassionate approach to life, and a daily practice of heart-felt gratitude.