For this Sunday, May 31st, the focus for our
meditation will be on Listening. I
watched that video last week and am sickened by what I saw. Partway through the video I found myself
hoping the police officer kneeling on the man’s neck would get up, and the
horror would end. But it didn’t. I already knew the final result from the
headline. What I was watching was
absolutely unbelievable to me as a former police officer. It completely contradicted any police
training I received regarding the use of force and physical restraint
methods. I was horrified by the thought
that I had just watched a person die because of the callous and unprofessional
conduct of someone who should not be a law enforcement officer. The recitation of recent incidents involving
racial disparities seems endless. Many
of us shake our head in disbelief at how some people will treat another simply
because of the color of their skin. So
how do we reverse this disturbing trend?
One way is to begin to truly Listen to each other. Look beyond the raw emotion accompanying some
of the messages and try to take in what is being said. Ask yourself why someone is feeling such
anger or fear or sadness. Really Listen
without judgment or thinking of what you might say in rebuttal. Fully absorb what the other person is
saying. Instead of tuning someone out because
you may not initially agree with how they are communicating their message try
to go beyond that and hear what they want to say. Until people feel they are being given a
chance to be heard there will be no way to bridge this racial divide that
exists in our nation. This week in our
prayer and meditation time let us ask that people across this country be
willing to honestly Listen to each other. May the light of our prayers encourage people
to take time to Listen without judgment and begin to reach some
understanding of the other person’s position.
By truly Listening to what someone has to say may we get to know
each other as individual human beings and move beyond the pervasive discrimination
that continues to infect this nation.
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 am actively Listening
to what someone else is saying? How does it feel in my body when I can Listen
without judgment and give someone a chance to be truly heard? 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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