April 13, 2015

  • The Road to 65, Mile 135: Stratified and Dissatisfied

    April 12, 2015, Eloy, AZ-  

    SAM_4786

    The day broke, generally cloudy, but for one bright spot of blue.  As I gazed at where the sun was illuminating its cloud cover, the blue spot just below it showed a face, of sorts.  I took this to mean that the spirit world was telling me that today will be a productive one.

    We did go through a lot of material and set the stage for a lot of “heavy lifting”, in terms of connecting with the wider society.  As I said yesterday, to the apparent consternation of many, we Baha’is are no longer hiding on the fringes of humanity.  We have much to offer, and will work shoulder-to-shoulder with all people of good will, in remedying the ills of the planet.

    Some have asked me, “What sort of people do you favour?”  Answer:  Human beings.

    “Where do you consider home?”  Answer:  Earth

    “Is it not necessary to separate people into groups, so as to make sense of our human condition?” Answer:  Perhaps, but not in the sense that some are seen as better than others.

    I detest social stratification.  I have never met a physically dirty person who can’t be made presentable,either by his/her own hand or with the help of others.  I have yet to meet a wealthy person whose heart can’t be touched to the point that he or she generously gives of self or of resources.  Stratification of society serves, essentially, those who for one reason or another fear contact with certain segments of society.  “It’s just easier this way.”, I’ve been told.

    We each have our preferences.  I am drawn more readily to some people than to others, and likewise, some are drawn to me, more than to, say, the President of the United States, or to a surfer at Doheny Beach.  None of this, however, means that we must exempt any particular group of people from our lives.  I’ve rubbed shoulders, so to speak, with high and low alike- and some of those, at both levels, have been a bit on the seamy side.  None are beyond redemption.

    Those who categorize others, to a great extent, may find themselves dissatisfied with certain aspects of their lives.  I’m not surprised at this, because in the act of pigeonholing others, one is limiting oneself, and one’s choices, as well.  This doesn’t mean we must, in Pollyannish fashion, approve of every aspect of everyone else’s lives.  Rather, it means, simply that an effort to understand, and then to find a place in one’s life, for as wide a variety of people as possible, makes for greater satisfaction.

    Those were my thoughts, as we prepared to end the weekend’s consultation, in this Desert Rose.

    SAM_4774

    SAM_4779

    SAM_4780

    SAM_4785

Comments (2)

  • Tolerance is at an all time low. I think there are many who confuse tolerance (sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own) with acceptance (to look/act/believe like others in order to be part of the same group). I wish there was some way to infect people with tolerance instead of bigotry, hatred, and violence...

  • Tolerance can only arise from surety. if one is really convinced that his/her path is right, then the path followed b others is no longer a threat.

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