It is amusing to me that we work so very hard to stay diligent in our resistance to fear on a personal level. We are determined to live in the present and not allow fear or guilt (fear being of the future, guilt being of the past) to influence our decisions in the present. I think we are all clear by now that life totally in the present moment cannot contain fear or guilt…it is impossible.
However, when it comes to decisions as a collective body, say a country, we are swayed on a daily basis by fear and guilt. We have fear of economic demise, fear of global calamity, fear of terrorists, fear of disease, and fear of each other. We have guilt for all the perception of wrongs that went before us…which, in reality, were perfection.
Let us get past the fear of the phone ringing at 3 am, the disappearance of our retirement funds, the demise of our health care system and explore the possibilities of electing a leader. He/she does not need to have “the plan” and all the answers. Surely with the multi 1,000’s we have on our government payroll, the expertise is there. What we need is leadership. What we need is inspiration to step up, stand up and speak out; to be present; to be stronger and better than we were.
What is life, both individually and collectively, asking of us? We do not need another flavor of what has gone before…we don’t have time for that. What we need is out of the box leadership and inspiration…we can figure out the details.
On a more personal note, I have been waiting for a great epiphany to tell me what was next in my own life. What would my impact be on the world? While I was waiting, I worked at staying open, blank and present for the great message to come. I just knew “my assignment” would be a life-changing, paradigm-altering message or legacy…my grandiose and lasting mark on the world for all time.
It has slowly started to come to me over these last few weeks that I just might not have a starring role. I may not be a Madame Curie, Maya Angelou or Mother Theresa. When I ask what the world needs from me instead of what I want for my life, which of course would be a leading role, the answers look quite different. It could be that I have always been doing my life’s work without any thought, effort or divine message.
My life auditions to date have yielded me many, many roles: Editor, Writer, Aerobics Instructor, Business owner, Consultant, Food and Beverage Director, Director of Sales, many mid-level management roles, Board Member and other volunteer opportunities too countless to remember, much less list, Friend, Wife, Daughter, Sister, Mother…and the list goes on and on.
Perhaps that is it. My impact on the world may be the unending moments in the Now, in the Present, to the thousands I have had the blessing and priviledge to instruct, lead and influence. Simple: no headliner soloist, but a supporting role. Moment to moment; day to day; year to year. A lifetime of one small, rare and sweet opportunity at a time. How simple; how powerful; how blessed.
Jacquie
April 16, 2008 at 11:18 pm |
JQ,
I think you will add one of the best roles of your life to the list very soon.
To be a grandmother is a sweet supporting role. It is a gift of pure happiness, joy and love. Welcome to the new club. sz
April 19, 2008 at 2:59 pm |
The “isness” of being . . things just are and at all times are defined by the way we judge them. Approaching anything from the intellect brings forth ego, but when we approach from the heart, we breathe in the joy of simply being in whatever state we find ourselves in during that awakening moment. As we all travel this path to that awakening, we find less and less need to “know” and more and more of simply “being” . .regardless of how the world sees us. You are always on a blessed journey and the unfoldments that you share with us are beautiful. Thank you.