Rob Field, CSW Director
We are now living in a battle-scarred era when powerful men filled with dangerous ideas are butting heads, and the world and its citizens are caught in the middle.
Exhibit A is Ukraine, which was invaded in a war of choice 4 years ago. Why? Because a man with an army and authoritarian power decided Ukraine should be “reunited” with its so-called Motherland, blocking possible Ukrainian membership in NATO. And what has this big idea brought us? 375,000 soldiers killed, 15,000 civilians killed (including at least 763 children), 6 million Ukrainians forced to leave their country, and God only knows how many more injuries have been sustained and billions of dollars spent on the war. A similar story can be told today in many other places unfortunate enough to have ruthless men in power, drunk on their big ideas.
My soul doesn’t know anything about ideology. Our spirits cannot (and should never want to try to) understand an idea that claims “I am more important than the life of another human being. You should be willing to go out and kill someone for my sake.” That is a soul-destroying proposition. Just ask military veterans and their families about the spiritual damage inflicted by war, even when the cause could be considered just.
Meanwhile, what about the rest of us: we who don’t want to sacrifice our souls on the altar of some powerful man’s bloody-minded foolishness? The simple answer is to guard your spiritual self like a priceless possession that can be easily lost—because that’s exactly what it is. How to pursue this goal, however, can feel like a huge challenge.
Here’s a brief stab at the ingredients we will need, as far as I can tell:
1. Togetherness. Do whatever it takes to find like-minded people who haven’t yet lost their souls or their sanity, and stay in relationship with them. It could be one other human being or 100. This is no time to go it alone.
2. Adopt (or return to) a daily practice of some kind. It doesn’t have to be fancy, impressive, or someone else’s recommendation. It should fit you, and—over time—help you feel more centered and grounded than you otherwise would be. The Center’s programs are practice based, and we’re always happy to provide learning tools and support.
3. Orient your inner life around some force for good. Call it a higher power, Presence, Source, God, Goddess, the Divine, Service, or simply humanity and/or the world. Life becomes too small and too self-centered when we allow things to always revolve around our own wants, desires, interests, and needs (a tough one, because we’re living in a consumeristic society that caters to all of these, 24-7). Balance them out with at least a part-time focus on something bigger than yourself, including the hurts, hopes, and needs of other beings.
4. Never forget the power of joy and humor. When people start to become mentally, emotionally or spiritually unwell, joy and laughter are some of the first things to go. A great question to ask yourself is, “How can I maximize being in community, serving the good, and holding onto joy and laughter?” If you feel too far removed from any of these, it’s probably a good time to re-balance your focus of attention and concern.
toy soldiers photo by Saifee Art via Unsplash