a couple of sentences really stand out for me in this wonderfully cathartic post: "I was responding to what I needed to believe and keep my sense of order intact." and "But sometimes we’re protecting ourselves—from the disruption that would come if we treated them as credible."
I have been noticing that in conversations with others who I know are caring people, but yet simply cannot find a way to exist outside of the box they have safely constructed around their lives. I understand it is not, for the most part, intentional that they "don't believe" the distorted realities we are seeing and hearing of all around us. It certainly doesn't help that social media and AI bots are working overtime to discredit what we see with our own eyes.
Right now, though we see it with our own eyes in Minnesota, D.C., NY, because it is not breaking down our door in our city or town, we doubt it is really happening. Its made up, its exaggerated, its staged for political advantage. That eats at our hearts desire to co-exist in a loving web of shared humanity. It is not beneficial to our pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.
You hit on a powerful question. How do we break through that fog of unbelieving?
You walked through many parallel fields of race, gender, age who individually experienced this failure to believe in their lives. Too often our beliefs "value" what is safe and what is self-serving versus what is truth and what is just.
Maybe trying to dissect or "de-construct" the stories to untruth perception and replace it with gentle truth? I don't know, but it has been on my mind, too. So, thank you very much for sharing this.
This topic has been top of mind for several weeks now, as I explored what upset me so in the disagreement about what I observed with my dog. It was such a small thing I shared - a concern and plan of action - yet it caused a lot of hard feelings on my part that helped this longer essay emerge. Thank you for your support of my work and commenting on this post. As the Venerable Monks on their Walk for Peace noted yesterday, if we wake up each day and commit to peace, respond with kindness and make the same commitment tomorrow, we can manifest peace in the world. (adapted from the live remarks at the National Cathedral)
It's those "little things", that one final straw, that breaks the camels back they say. It is not this straw that is any different, or holds any more meaning, than the thousands of others that weave our "now" moment.
We are in a space of observing and action that may arise from it. I know I don't spend enough time dissecting and deconstructing what I see and know as deep wrongs hiding golden truths. You are dissecting and deconstructing, and these little experiences like your pup's pee, show us that imbalance is all around us. Why did I not notice that before (and hubby did)? Maybe you just saw it because you needed to hear the criticism of your reaction so that you can connect it to the doubts you uncovered here. Its all connected, right?
a couple of sentences really stand out for me in this wonderfully cathartic post: "I was responding to what I needed to believe and keep my sense of order intact." and "But sometimes we’re protecting ourselves—from the disruption that would come if we treated them as credible."
I have been noticing that in conversations with others who I know are caring people, but yet simply cannot find a way to exist outside of the box they have safely constructed around their lives. I understand it is not, for the most part, intentional that they "don't believe" the distorted realities we are seeing and hearing of all around us. It certainly doesn't help that social media and AI bots are working overtime to discredit what we see with our own eyes.
Right now, though we see it with our own eyes in Minnesota, D.C., NY, because it is not breaking down our door in our city or town, we doubt it is really happening. Its made up, its exaggerated, its staged for political advantage. That eats at our hearts desire to co-exist in a loving web of shared humanity. It is not beneficial to our pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.
You hit on a powerful question. How do we break through that fog of unbelieving?
You walked through many parallel fields of race, gender, age who individually experienced this failure to believe in their lives. Too often our beliefs "value" what is safe and what is self-serving versus what is truth and what is just.
Maybe trying to dissect or "de-construct" the stories to untruth perception and replace it with gentle truth? I don't know, but it has been on my mind, too. So, thank you very much for sharing this.
This topic has been top of mind for several weeks now, as I explored what upset me so in the disagreement about what I observed with my dog. It was such a small thing I shared - a concern and plan of action - yet it caused a lot of hard feelings on my part that helped this longer essay emerge. Thank you for your support of my work and commenting on this post. As the Venerable Monks on their Walk for Peace noted yesterday, if we wake up each day and commit to peace, respond with kindness and make the same commitment tomorrow, we can manifest peace in the world. (adapted from the live remarks at the National Cathedral)
It's those "little things", that one final straw, that breaks the camels back they say. It is not this straw that is any different, or holds any more meaning, than the thousands of others that weave our "now" moment.
We are in a space of observing and action that may arise from it. I know I don't spend enough time dissecting and deconstructing what I see and know as deep wrongs hiding golden truths. You are dissecting and deconstructing, and these little experiences like your pup's pee, show us that imbalance is all around us. Why did I not notice that before (and hubby did)? Maybe you just saw it because you needed to hear the criticism of your reaction so that you can connect it to the doubts you uncovered here. Its all connected, right?
Don't know. But we are here now.