For this Sunday, April 8th, the focus for
our meditation will be on Responsibility. In 1963 the Community Mental Health Centers
Act was enacted by the Federal government in an effort to deinstitutionalize
state mental hospitals and bring an end to the terrible conditions patients had
to endure there. Unfortunately, while
conceptually it was a good idea, in practicality it only created a bigger
problem. The initial intent was to shut
down the state institutions and require treatment facilities at the community
level to take Responsibility for the mentally ill. However, a combination of lack of funding and
the objections of local residents with a “not in my backyard” perspective
ultimately contributed to the increasing populations of homeless people
suffering from mental illness. Had the program
succeeded it may have been able to prevent so many of the acts of mass violence
that have occurred since. Mental illness
is the most underfunded health challenge faced by our society. You don’t see people adorning their shirts with
colorful logos or running in charity races to raise awareness and solicit
research funding for schizophrenia or depression as often as you will find for
other conditions such as cancer or heart disease. This is not to say that all those who have
mental illness become violent. But those
who are violent represent the failure of our society to take Responsibility
for individuals who are unable to help themselves because of mental
illness. The stigma associated with these
conditions is as debilitating to the families and loved ones with mental
illness as trying to deal with the unending cycle of finding treatment and then
making sure their child, friend, or sibling sticks with it. Our nation’s crises of late have been over-simplified
into debates about guns, laws, or physical security measures at our
schools. None of these gets at the root
of the issue, which is we need to find a way to better help and monitor those
who are not capable of managing their own life rather than pretend to ignore
them. This week in our prayer and
meditation time let us ask that our nation find more compassion for those with
mental illness. May we each come to
recognize we all have a Responsibility to look out for those who are in
need, no matter the stigma associated with their challenges. Let us ask that we find a way in our
communities to take better Responsibility for each other, especially
those who most need our care.
In our efforts this week let us also continue to use the
energy of our prayers and meditation to amplify the light that covers and fills
this nation. As we perform our
meditation this week let us begin by re-energizing the brilliance and power of
the light we create. Just as before,
begin by forming a concentrated ball of light that is so bright it is almost
impossible to look directly at it. Raise
this sphere of light up high over the nation and then let its rays cascade down
to create a solid, impenetrable dome of light that completely covers every inch
of our country. From shore to shore and
border to border let the entire continent be filled with this brilliant, dense
light that will serve to magnify the best and highest qualities of our country
and the people who live across its vast lands.
Please follow the same practice as before: Get centered in
your body, ask to bring in your guides and others who are there to assist us,
and connect to the circle of others participating in this project.
Ask yourself what do I feel in my body when I recognize I
have a Responsibility to help others
to the best of my ability? How does it feel in my body when I appreciate
how those in need can benefit from others stepping up and accepting Responsibility to lend a helping hand?
Then send the energy and intention of those feelings to the nation.
Be sure to disconnect from the circle at the end and express
thanks for those who have helped us in this effort.
If you have feedback or experiences you would like to share
please let me know via e-mail to kmiritello@gmail.com
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