We
are always surrounded by what is larger than we are. Sometimes it is
beauty: the unfolding of the plant world in spring, the generosity
of strangers, the soft feeling of petting a cat, all these natural
phenomena that we can barely begin to explain. Sometimes it is
tragedy: the illness of those we love, violence that makes no sense,
the destruction of the natural world, hatred between peoples. How do
we live with so much that is beyond our control?
The
poet Rainer Maria Rilke wrote:
Even
as the farmer labors
there
where the seed turns into summer,
it
is not his work. It is Earth who gives.
Our
attitude toward the larger beauty and tragedy is strengthened when we
first acknowledge our limits—amazingly we sometimes think we are in
charge of something! No—we are not in charge. But we also have
much more power than we know. We can influence our surroundings by
how we live within our larger reality. One of the most important
questions to ask ourselves is “Am I acting now from fear, or from
love?”
Margaret
Marcuson writes: “It
takes a lot of energy to be afraid. I find that usually when I'm
afraid, I'm living in an imaginary future. My mind has traveled down
a path to a situation which does not actually exist. I'm only afraid
it might exist, and I can imagine it so fully that adrenaline floods
my body. Living in the non-existent future, especially when it's
negative, saps my energy and limits my resourcefulness in the
present.” (See her website for other great tips for congregational leaders http://margaretmarcuson.com/)
She
referred me to a book that identifies some strategies for
moving from fear to love. It is called 8
Habits of Love,
by Ed
Bacon, an Episcopal minister in California.
When
we act from love, the ripples affect all those around us. Here is a
summary I adapted from Margaret:
When
we are generous, others are more inclined to be so.
When
we make time for stillness, those around us can calm down.
When
we know our own truth, we can challenge others to think for
themselves.
When
we are candid, communication by all becomes cleaner.
When
we play, we and others will be more creative.
When
we forgive, we can release energy for our work in the world.
When
we are compassionate, the energy we would use to judge others is
available for more creative giving.
When
we understand community, we can both set boundaries and give support.
So
whether we are facing beauty or tragedy from that larger world, let
us cultivate these habits of love. That is something we have the
power to do, and something that ultimately is healing for our world.
