![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Youthful Insight, Adult Smugness
Feb. 27th, 2010 06:53 pmI spent most of today visiting in two very different situations and having very different spiritually-flavored experiences.
In the morning I went to the home of a former work colleague for a light lunch and conversation. Her two young sons (maybe 6 and 8 years old?) joined us for lunch and while we were gathered it came up that later in the afternoon I was going to attend a "Gathering of Goddesses" -- which in this case was a group of women friends who once attended the same small chuch together. My friend asked her sons if they understood what a goddess was. They had been reading Greek myths and so had been exposed to the idea of polytheism and goddesses. My friend asked them if they remembered the names of any of the gods. One of them was able to come up with Zeus, Poseidon and Hades, and correctly identified their realms of power.
What followed then was an absolutely amazing conversation with the older of the two boys about his ideas about who/what god was, what I did with Ereshkigal, his grief over his grandparents' deaths, my sharing about the person I loved who had died about the same time, and his expression of belief that we could still talk to the dead and they could even sometimes touch us. This family does not have a formal religious affiliation or set of beliefs, so it was particularly moving to witness the impulsive, natural spirituality of this young person.
Afterward his mother said that maybe I had a vocation teaching kids about spirituality. I'm not so sure, but I was grateful that it went as well as it did. I was trying very hard to be age appropriate, to speak to the boy with respect without talking over his head.
The next experience was not nearly as satisfying. In fact, I was so appalled I almost got up and left. ( Behind a cut, because this is getting long. )
I keep coming back to dynamic balance. Yes, do focus on the positive, repeat your affirmations, envision a better future, shut down negative self-talk -- but also remember that it is the responsibility of those who have to reach out and help those who have not. You don't have to martyr yourself, just open your eyes, see, and let your pain lead you to take compassionate action -- whatever it is that is within your power. Don't just stick your fingers in your ears because "La-La-La it's nothing to do with me."
This is something I strugle with. I am convicted by my own words, my own limitations. My own fear of not having enough for myself and my daughter, much less enough to share with others. But may the gods give me the strength to not turn away from the suffering of others, and to do what I can to help alleviate it, whether through financial/material support, or prayer, or the touch of a loving hand.
Let me never say "It has nothing to do with me."
In the morning I went to the home of a former work colleague for a light lunch and conversation. Her two young sons (maybe 6 and 8 years old?) joined us for lunch and while we were gathered it came up that later in the afternoon I was going to attend a "Gathering of Goddesses" -- which in this case was a group of women friends who once attended the same small chuch together. My friend asked her sons if they understood what a goddess was. They had been reading Greek myths and so had been exposed to the idea of polytheism and goddesses. My friend asked them if they remembered the names of any of the gods. One of them was able to come up with Zeus, Poseidon and Hades, and correctly identified their realms of power.
What followed then was an absolutely amazing conversation with the older of the two boys about his ideas about who/what god was, what I did with Ereshkigal, his grief over his grandparents' deaths, my sharing about the person I loved who had died about the same time, and his expression of belief that we could still talk to the dead and they could even sometimes touch us. This family does not have a formal religious affiliation or set of beliefs, so it was particularly moving to witness the impulsive, natural spirituality of this young person.
Afterward his mother said that maybe I had a vocation teaching kids about spirituality. I'm not so sure, but I was grateful that it went as well as it did. I was trying very hard to be age appropriate, to speak to the boy with respect without talking over his head.
The next experience was not nearly as satisfying. In fact, I was so appalled I almost got up and left. ( Behind a cut, because this is getting long. )
I keep coming back to dynamic balance. Yes, do focus on the positive, repeat your affirmations, envision a better future, shut down negative self-talk -- but also remember that it is the responsibility of those who have to reach out and help those who have not. You don't have to martyr yourself, just open your eyes, see, and let your pain lead you to take compassionate action -- whatever it is that is within your power. Don't just stick your fingers in your ears because "La-La-La it's nothing to do with me."
This is something I strugle with. I am convicted by my own words, my own limitations. My own fear of not having enough for myself and my daughter, much less enough to share with others. But may the gods give me the strength to not turn away from the suffering of others, and to do what I can to help alleviate it, whether through financial/material support, or prayer, or the touch of a loving hand.
Let me never say "It has nothing to do with me."
