Treating Spiritual Disorders
Recent Reflections
THE TAKING ON OF POWER
Power as with thought
and language is upon us as a great problem in our lives. The power to
resolve (through thinking and speaking) to take a certain course of action
provides strength and determination so as to achieve a goal. Yet the goal
often becomes an end in itself, devoid
of mutuality, the well being of others, even self interest. Individuals
banding together around such force pride themselves with their ability
to prevail and their relationship with each other is secondary to the
power. The gentle opening to life’s source is hidden and the prominence
of and preoccupation with effect takes its place. From individuals, to
couples, political action groups, service agencies, religious organizations,
governments it is the great delusion. Yet as with all creatures maintaining
life and harmony, power and balance may integrate and interweave amongst
the expressions or nurturance, support, caring and love.
HEALTHY
MANIFESTATIONS
OF POWER
I had thought
to share with you,
this understanding
from my open heart
wanting to see
what it is
we might come
to know, together.
This is rather strange
in that the writing
precedes your reading
and the text has come
from me.
Still, you are
the last one
to evaluate, use
modify or discard
these words.
Perhaps on another occasion
that discussion might
deserve exploration.
Yet this is,
in the giving and receiving
of these words,
a healthy sharing of power.
Upon the beginnings
of my release
from that grey
sometimes darker cloud
of power
bringing about stagnation,
reacting badly
joining in unhealthy
concert with others
and shrinking
from the controlling
tendencies of those
I might fear,
still reacting to them
this release being
as I said on that occasion
and felt these things
"I love this
docility
and it makes me glad
to be alive.
It flows from
such depths
it is as
from a source
without origin."
There were other things
written for your review
should you wish
to explore further
those happy words.
At the time
I could not
but enunciate
the bare essence
of healthy power
"to stabilize us
and protect us
to help others
and go forth
with resolution."
How beautiful it is
that we should be
as the dove
who pulls upon the worm
dislodging it
then carrying aloft
sustenance for the young,
its mate, or its own repast.
And the worm
for its part
in all of this
going forth in the earth
consuming sustenance
for its needs
until its departure
in the beak of the dove
to the heavens.
It is not only
the power of love.
For what underlies it
is the power of creation
though one might say
they are synonymous.
I suspect that love
is a wide range
of responses
evoked in us.
That we are born
as manifestations
of creation’s being
may evoke feelings
of love within.
They are perhaps
softer than the power
of unity and integration
which some see
as universal chaos.
thus demonstrating
the human ability
to define reality
as the chaos
we may feel
perhaps resulting
from our own unresolved
condition.
And for a moment
I anxiously avoid
the sadness
that comes with
my awakening
finding unseeing eyes
transmit and perpetuate
the blindness
of ourselves and beloved
and all the people,
I sharing this with you
lost in confusion.
My prayer is that these words
come alive
and leave their foundation
upon the page
entering our hearts
that we not depend
upon them,
searching for the right thing
to say.
Stabilizing power is organic.
It comes from the independent
union of our cells and living.
It is not contrived.
The social structures
are permeable membranes
unseen
but important to know.
They hold us to the
earth
that I may place my foot
upon the ground
and go forth
Power underlies the
means
through which we come
to value experience.
We offer it to others
in their behalf
to keep them from harm,
from harming others.
There is the power of protection
that we may know safety.
What has it to do with fences
and armaments, giant machines
and all those things?
To be sure,
the door keeps the wolf
from entering
that the baby may
play freely within.
And there are
those many devices
that tells us
of nature’s patterns
warning us of times
we must go down
and hide from
her violence.
These are ways
we have overcome
some difficulties
using this power.
And should they
not be there
we would be harmed.
Many would die
and the people would cry
in the streets with grief
overwhelming them.
It is hard
to come upon the words
which express protection
as an understanding,
perhaps acceptance.
Still, this is what
it is.
The mother caring
with doctors helping
to save but a small life
understanding that when
he is laid to rest
and gone from this world
the light of life
continues upon us
until it is no more.
I will protect you
as I have not done before
and in my sorrow now see
how you have suffered
as have I.
It is not but the violence around
rather too that within,
as I contemplate these things
knowing of my unskillful ways.
We may come to know harmony
with forbearance
given the events of the past
through our explorations
and actions in behalf
of one and many others.
The helping of others
offers unparalleled
strength and power.
It is the means
through which unity
becomes us
and we are restored.
It is the antidote
to betrayal
and judgment
it is true hope and reconciliation
it is a wonder, both of itself
and why it is not
more widely known.
To go forth with resolution
is the overcoming of
an inner power vacuum
resulting from angst.
Angst disrupts that
comfort we feel
when living harmoniously.
Body sensations,
those typically incidental
to living presence
bear messages of imbalance
dominating our
focus of being.
Backgrounds come to the fore
eclipsing identity.
We employ many strategies
to overcome disruption.
For if we can not
life becomes but a shadow,
of its true beauty.
There are medicines,
beverages and smoked
remedies. Sex, money
corrosive(over/under) power,
recognition and accomplishment
exercise and driving
so many ways
to avoid discontedness.
There are the expressive ways
wherein for right causes
we ask that our pain
be heard or even felt.
Perhaps there is even agreement
"I will feel your pain
so as to avoid my own."
There are other ways
through meditation, prayer
and contemplation,
through searching
for physical resourcing
hot, cold and all.
To open the path
that we may be
spiritually aware
and alive
seeing the basic unity
with the unknown,
that nourishing absence.
For when we come upon
her
we hear through our bodies
the imprint of her voice
stilling the turmoil
that we may again
live our lives
in appreciation
and harmony
accepting whatever joy
or sadness is ours
as part of
this gift of life.
TWO CONTEMPLATIVE
MEDITATIONS
on
The Thoughtful Opening of the Heart
and
The Taking On of Power
GREGORY SIMS,
Ph.D.
6/24/’02