For this Sunday, January 12th, the focus for
our meditation will be on Balance.
It probably comes as no surprise to most of you that social media skews
the content of what you see based on what you have viewed previously and
particularly what you have indicated you “liked.” As a result, you are only fed more content
that is similar to what you have already seen.
Perhaps this is no problem when it results in your watching more of
those cute pet videos, but it does create an issue when it comes to the news or
information you are fed through your social media accounts. I believe one of the fundamental issues furthering
the divisiveness in this country is our failure to truly consider the other’s
point of view. The problem is how can we
even attempt to take in another’s perspective if we never are exposed to news
that differs from what we already believe.
I am going to challenge every person who reads this post to engage in an
ongoing experiment between now and the November elections. At least once a week, I am asking you to read
an entire article or listen to the complete coverage of an issue from a news
source you normally shun. If you find
yourself wholly dismissing any news coverage from a more conservative source,
such as Fox News, try to objectively take in just a single story from either their
broadcast channel or website. Think CNN
or NPR are biased, inflammatory news sites not worthy of your attention? Suspend any biases you may have for just a
moment and try to listen to some of their coverage. This may initially be difficult, for you will
likely want to immediately go into “critic” mode and find fault with how they
are portraying a particular story.
Instead, I am asking you to approach this exercise from a position of
neutrality and objectivity. Simply
expose yourself to these alternate (for you) news sources on a regular
basis. See if there is an aspect they present
that surprises you by revealing information you didn’t previously know. Ask yourself how the differences in their
portrayal of a particular issue reflect some underlying shift in how people
with opposing opinions see the same issue.
More importantly, ask yourself is there some small piece of information in
their viewpoint with which you could agree?
It comes down to the parable of the three blind men placed in a room
with an elephant who offer vastly different descriptions of the same animal because
of the limitations of what they can perceive through their restricted areas of
touch. Unless we make a conscious effort
to broaden our perceptions, we are allowing ourselves to be blindfolded by the incomplete
information we receive. This week in our
prayer and meditation time let us ask to be shown how to bring more Balance
into our lives in terms of the information we gather to form opinions. May the energy of our prayers encourage more
people across this nation to open their minds and be willing to honestly
consider the viewpoints of others they might have previously dismissed. Through this experiment, let us ask that greater
Balance be infused in our culture and help reduce the great divide that
only seems to want to further weaken our country.
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 make a
purposeful attempt to Balance the information I rely on in forming my
opinions? How does it feel in my body when I am willing to remain objective
and Balanced by honestly considering alternate viewpoints? 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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