... and let it begin, with me.
Anyone else besides me now singing that song in your head (if not, read my title and then the first line of the blog ...)? I feel that the last week or so have been somewhat stressful for many of us, especially us in the USA. The media news has not trended in a positive light what with growing tensions between us and the Syrian government, us and other countries around the world, our economy, etc. In that vein I have reflected on this blog post, myself trying to make sense of where we go from here. In previous blog posts I have reflected on ways of coping, psychologically and spiritually, with tragedy, so what next? Do I move on, as if the topics have been exhausted? Is there more to say? In my own reflections I came to understand that much of what I had said in my previous blogs focused on the reactions to an event. Maybe the reflection needs to focus on preventing the events.
You may ask, but how can we prevent this potential tragedy? For me, the answer comes from an essay, written in 1961, entitled "The Root of War is Fear", written by a Trappist monk, Thomas Merton. Here is an excerpt:
Yet, as easy as Merton's quote makes it sound, we all know it isn't that easy in practice. In a previous blog post I spoke in detail on this topic, even offering a counseling technique I often use (check it out here).
As we continue to listen to the media news, I challenge us to reflect on the Merton quote. Spend some quiet time reflecting on those areas of our life which needs changing. Honestly try, one day at a time, to think and to react differently to the world around us. Focus on those feelings and thoughts which really matter; God, family, love. Honestly, nothing else matters if we truly live in a way which honors those three values. Try it! I have faith that not only can we make the changes within us, but as we do so, we will be changing the world!