Meditations 4 Misfits

The other morning as I was out for a walk on the bike path near my home, I encountered a homeless man, an unhoused neighbor. He was walking my way, no shirt, bare feet, with a backpack and a big smile. As we neared he looked me right in the eyes and said with a big warm smile, “Health and long life to ya.”

I can’t tell you how wonderful that fellow pilgrim’s blessing made me feel inside. It made a beautiful day more beautiful.  Such is the power of a blessing.

May you find someone to bless today.

Peace, Fred

Nearly 60 years ago Thomas Merton wrote,

“What I am trying to say is, then, that it does us no good to make fantastic progress if we do not know how to live with it, if we cannot make good use of it, and if, in fact, our technology becomes nothing more than an expensive and complicated way of cultural disintegration … The fact remains that we have created for ourselves a culture which is not yet livable for mankind as a whole.

Never before has there been such a distance between the abject misery of the poor (still the great majority of mankind) and the absurd affluence of the rich … The problem of racism – is becoming a universal symptom of homicidal paranoia.

The fact that most men believe, as an article of faith, that we are now in a position to solve all our problems does not prove that this is so. On the contrary, this belief is so unfounded that it is itself one of our greatest problems.”

As I read these words I am struck by the notion that while human technology has made unimagined strides in the past 60 years, our shared humanity has not. Who was it who said, “Whatsoever you do to the poorest of my sisters and brothers you do to me?”

Rather than argue what will we do about this situation, I am troubled this morning by what will I do about it.

If you enjoy reading good poetry with spiritual depth … might I suggest Absolution.

It is written by a beautifully wise woman who just happens to be married to me.

Enjoy,

Fred

Absolution: Bonazzoli, Nancy Diamante: 9781643882338: Amazon.com: Books

One of those days, all things considered, I’d just rather stay in bed.

Over 3,000 years ago the famous Oracle of Delphi proclaimed, “Know Thyself.” Her advice is that knowing who we really are, our strengths and our shortcomings, what is good in us and what is not, knowing when we need help and when we don’t, is fundamental to living a flourishing life. Sage advice that could have saved Humpty Dumpty a world of hurt.