My big news this month is that, after resisting for years, I have finally
succumbed to the weird & wonderful world of social networking and
joined not just Facebook but Twitter as well! I realise that for many
of you this will come as a shock- it certainly did to me! I could plead
coercion- I was strongly persuaded by a client here in Spain, a young
woman already a successful and innovative internet entrepreneur, who
was aghast in disbelief that I was not making better use of this vast
virtual world. But the truth is, it was one word--the resonance of that
word to be precise--which led to the decision. Connection.
Having signed up, I watched in amazement as, almost immediately, lines
of connection and interconnection appeared on my screen. I felt I was
watching a new neural network developing in real time in front of my
eyes. People I had known of and would have liked to know personally
popped up as potential friends; people who had been wanting to connect
with me offered their friendship. My worldview opened up and re-focussed
in the space of a few exhilerating hours. Its all still very new and
exciting, and while I have much to learn, for now I''m enjoying the
experience immensely.
If you would like to join me on Facebook, or follow me (I already have
the language!) on Twitter, the links are at the end of this newsletter
with the usual contact information.
Prejudice & the Mirror of Compassion: I recently read a newsletter
from a former teacher. He was writing about an upsetting experience
he'd had with an old and close friend whilst on an overseas trip. In
a heated moment, the friend referred to him as 'American' in an angry,
accusing tone. Stung by the exchange he broke off the long-lasting friendship
and on returning home erected a flag pole in his front garden and flew
the Stars & Stripes, proud to be an American and of all it stands
for--freedom of speech & self-determination. His newsletter continued
with an empassioned diatribe against prejudice in all its forms and
a plea for tolerance and compassion.
I agree. Prejudice, whether based on race, religion, gender or anything
else, is a toxic attitude which fuels hatred and division. It is something
I have been on the receiving end of on more than one occasion in my
life, and know how hurtful it can be. But the question is: how can we
reduce or eliminate it? Not, I believe, by declaring a war (yet another
war) on it, by demonising it and those who perpetrate it or by defiantly
defending ourselves and our values (whatever we oppose, we strengthen).
And definitely not by behaving in the stereotypical way that only serves
to confirm the other person in their prejudice!
I believe that anything which is not an expression of love is ultimately
a cry for love. I also acknowledge how challenging it can be to remember
this truth in the heat of the moment! There is a generalised element
to prejudice- in this case a far-reaching perception in much of the
world that America, through military & economic intervention and
manipulation, has denied those very same qualities of freedom and self-determination
to many. However, if we are serious about bringing peace & harmony
to the world then we need to look deeper into the mirror which prejudice
holds up to us personally. We need to look within, with unflinching
honesty and ask ourselves if we really are- or have been- acting (or
even thinking) in a way that the other person perceives us as having
behaved. Only in the mirror of such intense and uncomfortable interaction
can we see revealed the shadow- the parts of ourself we have hidden
away through fear and judgement. In the light of consciousness we have
the opportunity to heal a wounded part of ourself through compassion
and forgiveness, and offer that same healing to whoever stands in front
of us as our accuser.
In the fairy story ""Snow White"", the wicked queen
demands ‘‘mirror mirror on the wall, who''s the fairest of
them all?"". When she doesn''t like the reflection of herself
she smashes the mirror. Sometimes It takes courage- and a lot of self
love and esteem- to willingly stand and look into the mirror. If we
decide that it is the mirror which is at fault, smash it, trash it,
judge it, dismiss it; close our ears to the cry for love, then we perpetuate
the hurt and the anger & hatred it can turn into. If we are willing
to own the reflection, to look into the mirror and respond to what we
see there with love & compassion, then we can literally walk through
the looking glass and find ourselves in a world of peace and miracles.
Blessings,
Richard
