For this Sunday, June 16th, the focus for our
meditation will be on Speaking. One thing I will never comprehend
is when someone observes another individual being bullied or even physically
assaulted, and the bystander simply live streams a video of the incident on
their cell phone. Why they don’t
intercede to halt the abuse completely escapes me. I suppose I could understand if the bystander
felt physically intimidated, but there are response options other than
violence. The interesting thing about
public instances of harm against another person is the perpetrators will feel
emboldened if they believe no one will object.
The notion of herd mentality has been well-studied, and one factor
behind this phenomenon is when members of a group feel they are among
like-minded individuals. While
bystanders to a violent act may not be condoning what they see, their silence
is likely taken as tacit approval by the thug.
If people were more willing to stand and Speak up for the victim
perhaps the bullies would realize they are not in the majority. They might be motivated to reconsider their
actions in light of the awareness there are others around who object to what
they are doing. I am convinced all it
would take is for one individual to change the tide of the group’s emotion and Speak out to voice their disapproval.
Just as the first stone thrown by a member of a mob can encourage others
to follow suit, perhaps taking action in the opposite direction can prevent matters
from escalating into violence. If a
single person steps up and Speaks out it might get the bully to retreat. I also believe once the first person Speaks up others in the crowd would feel similarly motivated to reinforce the
public censure. The key to an effective
reaction is to remain calm and confident in Speaking up and not sound
angry or threatening to avoid heightening tensions. Think about how much more peaceful our
society as a whole would be if people were more willing to Speak out against instances of abuse.
If more people took the step of Speaking up against harm to
others rather than being idle observers, we could see a tremendous decrease in
the violence that plagues our nation.
This week in our prayer and meditation time let us ask to find the
strength and courage to Speak up when we observe acts we find
objectionable. May we all feel compelled
to Speak out with calm, confident support for those
who would be targeted by others for abuse.
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 have Spoken
up for those who were being taken advantage of by others? How does it
feel in my body when I am able to remain calm yet steadfast in Speaking out
against violence? 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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