Some time ago, while walking home after a very complex, challenge-filled day, I happened to reach for my mp3 player to shut out the noise of the world and I happened to choose Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata.
As the soothing music relaxed me, I noticed something intriguing – the chaotic traffic around me seemed to be flowing in time with the music.
The seemingly random, stressful chaos that is the typical commute in most cities had transformed itself into fluid poetry right before my eyes.
I was reminded once again as I sat and watched this poetry in motion that the difference between chaos and poetry is often merely perspective.
That’s not to suggest that everything bad or evil in the world can be transformed into something good or enjoyable merely by playing a nice piece of music. I’m not that naive.
However, much of what we in the western world stress over doesn’t really warrant the amount of bad energy that we tend to assign to things.
Much of it depends on our perspective.
Meanwhile in the world ….
In a similar way, much of the news we see these days tends to suggest that the world has become very chaotic in its day-to-day existence and news of war, evil and greed tends to shout over news of peace, love and sharing.
Sadly (and disturbingly), in meetings I have had in recent months with various Wall St., government and military officials, it appears that they are preparing for something even worse than that which is being reported in the news. It seems that many public officials are now more in the game of public relations, keeping people positive in a world filled with challenge as what they believe to be unstoppable moves closer to reality.
Playing relaxing or positive music won’t change this, of course. I am not one of those Pollyanna types who believes that evil vanishes just because we pretend it’s not there or because we sit in meditation thinking good thoughts.
In fact, when we pretend that evil is not there, we give it a license to grow and spread.
However, when we change our perspective about the world and focus on the beauty that exists in nature and in the human spirit, we have a greater sense of how much beauty, peace, love and sharing is around us and within our reach to amplify instead of being beaten down by the negativity that seems common around us.
It reminds us that instead of lying down and assuming that the difficulties of today or the challenges on our horizon have doomed us, we instead have many wonderful causes that are worth fighting for.
After all, the human spirit is known for overcoming adversity no matter how dark the moment may be.
It seems that oftentimes, it’s when everything is on the line is when we REALLY shine.
In a world caught in the balance between chaos and poetry, we need people to shine more than ever.
Everything that is wonderful about the human spirit and the future that we create for our children depends on it.
Are you shining today?
How do you know?
The world is waiting for your gifts.
The question is …. what are you waiting for?
In service and servanthood,
Harry
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