Staying human in the shadow of war (again) - Free Resilience Sessions

I can’t help but feel

that this endless war

in all of its manifestations

in all of the corners of the world 

that are touched by violence

missiles flying overhead

oppression and occupation

economic stress

loneliness and isolation

can simply be summed up 

as 

a war on our consciousness.  

The more we are afraid

the easier it is to manipulate us

to distance ourselves from one another

to separate and judge

when what we actually need

is to be TOGETHER. 

Now as ever, the call that reverberates in my heart

is to 

resist fear, assist love.  

Resisting fear does not mean ignoring it or suppressing it.  

Fear is real and when I hear a siren and need to head into a bomb shelter, 

I am afraid. 

When I read the news and see the ways the ones who call themselves leaders

are acting with no regard for human life, for any life, 

I am afraid. 

When I sense the distance and separation among my own friends and family

each thinking that their opinion is right

and the other is less than

I am afraid. 

Acknowledging these fears

gives me the space to breathe 

and perhaps to begin to transform them

so that I can return to love. 

Recognizing how scary things are right now

gives me the possibility to share it with others

and feel the togetherness that can come 

when you return to love. 

One simple thing you can do 

to find that sense of ground

recognize the fear and call to the love 

is simply hug yourself. 

Wrap your arms around your body 

and breathe

to remember the love of your mother holding you to her breast

whispering her prayers into your ears. 

No matter what your relationship is like with your mother now

the possibility to remember love

lives in the gentle embrace 

you holding yourself

and life holding you.