The Root of Our Troubles 2/12/22

 All through the day - I me mine, I me mine, I me mine. All through the night - I me mine, I me mine, I me mine.  George Harrison

I think of selfishness and self-centeredness as the “original sin”. Self-centeredness is like the old imagery of the Sun rotating around the Earth. It seemed logical. We are where our attention is, while everything else moves around it. Why not, then, hold myself at the center of my life, beatifically allowing others in and out of my gravitational pull? Each of us, our own little solar system, with ourselves at the center. Hallelujah.

Science had to come in and screw everything up. We revolve around the Sun? Outrageous! Blasphemous! Anyone with eyes and common sense can see how completely wrong “science” is!

Maybe we’re more like a single atom, constantly in motion, bouncing off other atoms, millions of us coming together as One. Or, we’re each one drop in the ocean, trying to maintain our Sacred Drop-ness.

Being human, I have choice. I get to see myself as separate. I can allow the wounding I’ve experienced to define me, while choosing to not see the wounding I’ve caused. I get to choose to justify my actions or inactions, because that is my God-given right. My vision, though, is clouded by the self-centeredness of Ego. My limitation of seeing the whole picture doesn’t make the picture itself smaller.

When I can see the righteousness for what it is - self-centeredness, judgement, purposeful separation - do I still feel it has right-ness? What do I feel at those times?

It is vital to me to not stand in the way of empathy. How are we similar? How are we the same? The process of reaching out is the same, whether it is I or someone I encounter who needs engagement with a willing heart.


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