Through the years, that which has helped us humans cope with the inexplicable sufferings of this life has also been a cause of immense suffering to us in one form or another. Religion, especially in its fundamentalist form, has not always served us well.
Jesus did not get crucified just because he was so radically different from most people around him but also because he could not convince those around him to witness with an open mind what he had to show and share. We, as humans, have the capacity to build within ourselves insurmountable walls of opinions and believes which even God incarnate could not knock down unless we decided to let Him in. Such is our freedom and such is also our failing.
There is hence little sense in trying to convince another away from what one may believe to be the case at this point in their life. What one holds true today was not their reality yesterday and will not be their truth in time to come, no matter how unlikely it may seem at this instant. There is no constant in this known Universe.
I do, however, hope that as we dwell deeper on the topic of religion and its understanding and as we continue to explore and experiment with our investigation of truth, that we take the time - may be just few minutes in a day - to set aside and put down all that may be on our mind and connect with those around us in a way that is meaningful to us and comforting to them - our family, our friends, our neighbors, the store clerk, the co-worker, the stranger on the road.
Yes, the world has become and continues to be an increasingly dangerous place. It is then of even greater import and importance that we be kind in our word and action to whatever extent may be possible for us - if not for a week, then may be a day, if not a day then may be an hour, if not an hour then may be a minute or even a second.
Perhaps changing the world is a lofty goal for most of us but influencing our immediate environment with a light of joy and care is not beyond our abilities, should we so choose. Let us then rebuild the world immediately around us one thought at a time, one word at a time, one action at a time, one connection, one relationship at a time.
May we all have the intelligence, the courage, the capacity, the compassion and the care to ask ourselves prior to commencing any and all of our communications whether what we are about to think/say/write is true, is kind, is necessary, and whether it will bring comfort to all hearts that may listen to it. And only when it passes this test may we pursue its sharing with the zeal that it deserves.
