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Today's
Meditation:
In
contrast with yesterday's passage about sitting alone
quietly in a room, John Loori's words tell a completely
different story. John looks at the responsibility
that we have to be a part of this world that we've been
born into, to celebrate and utilize the unity that we have
as human beings all together on this planet. If I
sit alone on a mountaintop, then what can I contribute to
my sisters and brothers who are also doing their best to
get by, and who may need some help or an encouraging word
or two as they face their struggles?
I
often need to take time alone, mostly to recharge myself
and to re-focus my energy. I need this so that I'll
be able to interact more effectively with people who need
what I have to give. When I'm teaching, I need to be
an effective teacher--and that means a well-rested and
-focused teacher. When I'm working at the front desk
of a hotel, the guests need me to be able to focus and
take care of their needs. As a husband, a
step-father, a friend, a co-worker, I need to be able to
interact effectively with people.
But
if I spend my whole life alone, recharging my energy, who
will ever benefit from my gifts? How will I be able
to share my talents and abilities? How will my
isolation serve anyone but myself?
Thoreau
went out to live at Walden in order to live simply, but he
never did leave behind his fellow people. He visited
them regularly, never intending for his chosen solitude to
cut him off completely from his brothers and sisters.
If
we're to live fully, we need each other--we need to give
to each other, teach each other, take from each other, and
learn from each other. We weren't born alone into
this world, so why would we imagine that cutting ourselves
off from others is an effective way of life?
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| Questions to
consider:
Why might a life of complete solitude seem very
enticing?
If I spend my life alone on a mountaintop, what might I
be able to contribute to humanity and the world we live
on?
What kinds of things can we contribute while
interacting with others? |
