Unfortunately the experience was marred by some very unfortunate communication problems and misunderstandings between our committee and members of the parish staff. I’m deciding to let it go. I was inspired to let it go by my morning reflection yesterday, and my experience today further solidified the realization that I have to just let it go. Of course they’re apparently not letting it go (the drama and rumor mill continue on), but I have no control over them.
From May 3rd (the date of the issuance of the 1983 US Bishops’ letter on peace) to June 26 (the 1945 signing of the UN Charter) I’m using a reflection booklet from the Leadership Council of Women Religious – "The Sound of the Gentle Breeze."
The reflection for May 21 was by Franciscan Sister Virginia Welsh. First she quotes Thomas Merton:
"Instead of hating people you think are warmakers, hate the appetites and the disorder in your own soul, which are the causes of war. If you love peace, then hate injustice, hate tyranny, hate greed – but hate these things in yourself, not in another."
She then goes on to say, among other things:
"Today, let us look deeply into our own hearts and purify them by choosing one behavior which will change our hearts and ultimately create a new world from the inside out."
I can’t undo what was done, and I can't make certain people grow up. But I can let go of the hate and anger in my heart. I can put away the hurt feelings and ruffled feathers from the rummage sale drama. Let’s just consider it more of the rummage I gave away.
2 comments:
Letting go of hate reminds me of detachment... it's a wonderful thing. When I first learned it, it was of the Buddhist variety; then I found Thomas Keating's books and approached it from a Christian perspective, which really isn't much different anyway. Then, as I tended more towards the Jesuit way I read about being indifferent to things; which again is a form of detachment.
I am convinced that much of the misery of the world is because people of all types and classes cling tight to their fear, anger, hate and insecurities. This keeps them from loving, and from being free.
The end of your comment reminded me of a wise Jedi Master: Fear leads to Anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.
Yoda (aka George Lucas) was onto something there I think.
This morning on the bus my musings ran along the lines of if we could all just make peace in our own hearts, that would necessarily move peace into our own little circles of the world. All those circles overlap, and then we'd have peace.
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