Reflections on Change

 

REFLECTIONS

On

“CHANGE”

 

It is about 9am on a Saturday morning. I have been in meditation for about two hours. Half way into this state of being, I began to fade away from the world around me. Usually, I will relish this heightened sense of being while my quieted senses wait in anticipation of receiving any message that may come their way. This particular day was different. I chose to become the messenger by asking a barrage of questions about the turmoil in our world. I expected answers to my questions but did not realize they will come before I could finish the asking. In the context of meditation, messages tend to flow one way but this day was different for me.

 

The frightening news of our current economic crises and the uncertainties of our future, prompted me to question God while demanding answers. I started with, where are you God? Do you not care if we perish? What went wrong? You have rescued us before. I am sure you can do it again unless you believe in one strike, you are out. I know your son Jesus rescued us from our sins; maybe some of the solders risking their lives in Iraq can volunteer to risk it to save not just Iraq but all of humanity. We need to be rescued from war, economic crises, religious strife, leadership failures, social ills and, moral decay. We live in a polluted world. The pollution, collectively generated by us, has eroded every fabric of our lives. We have fallen short of expectations. Each time we attempt to clean up our mess, our differences, prejudices, egos, and greed become obstacles. How much more mess can we make before you step in to rescue us? Your gospel is constantly preached on every street corner but it ends up like fruits that fell on non-fertile soil and fail to germinate. Many souls are disconnected from their divine origin. Whose fault is it God?  Did you fail to make our mission clear? Why black and white people? Are you aware of the unimaginable problems color continues to create? Why multiple nations? One nation may have prevented wars, terrorism, and hatred and power struggle. Why can't men and women get relationships right? Why different religions? Why is that religion which is meant to be a unifying force has become the most divisive element of our time. Each claim superiority; preach separatism, spread fear, and hatred. Why rich people and poor people? Why, why, why?

 

Did I get answers? Yes indeed. God knew that the list was endless and quickly interrupted me with answers while he still had my attention. His answers left me bewildered. He started this way. Yes Ada, I am aware. I am seeing it all. I am watching it all. I am sad, shocked, disappointed, dismayed, and concerned like a father ought to be. Imagine me, the Father of ALL, the Creator of all, the Caretaker of all, living and non-living, Christians, and Muslims, believers and non believers, the healthy and the sick, the oppressed and the oppressor, black and white, rich and poor. Imagine what it feels like to know that my children and my world, is in turmoil, in crises, and confusion. Imagine what it's like to feel betrayed. You have the audacity to question my silence. Your world is reaping what you sewed. Did I not command you to love one another? Instead, you choose prejudice and hatred. Thou shall not kill, I instructed. Instead, war, violence and terrorism are now heroic symbols. Was it my vote that elected your government whose misplaced priority lead to war, economic crises, and bailout that benefits the perpetrators. Do you ever ponder why your elected leader’s value weapons of war over the harnessing of your own energy? Special interests over public welfare. Power struggle over consensus building. The equitable distribution of wealth and eradication of poverty over the enrichment of those on top. The prevention and eradication of disease with a health care system that guarantees access to those in need over a broken system. Have you not replaced quite time to seek me with text messaging, e-mailing,  spending endless hours in front of the television, and talking non-stop on the cell phones. Are you aware that your government is sponsoring the mass production of children by young single teenagers? Is it ethical and religious to teach young people that you can reap where you did not sew, that your world would continue to flourish when more is taken away than is put is in? Do you expect peace in your world when you refuse to love thy neighbor as thy self? I purposely created mankind with different colors, languages, boundaries, creeds and beliefs. My purpose was to challenge you to acquire the virtue of love and tolerance. Did I not employ you humans to seek first my kingdom for your preservation, prosperity, happiness, peace and security? Your country and the world at large are paying the price of collective neglect, disobedience, greed, and incompetent leadership. Your sufferings stem from lack of purpose, self-control and love. Like the prodigal son, I keep hoping and waiting for your home coming. In my Home, your Home, there is love, peace, happiness, health, and prosperity. The door is always open Ada. Tell my children. Tell them to come. Write.Write. Write. Call it REFLECTION, REFLECTION.

 

In this hypnotic state, with my whole face saturated with tears, there was a nock on my door. My daughter announced that breakfast is ready. When I finally managed to speak, I said, I can't eat. I am being told to write. I need paper and pen. Victoria, who was awe stricken by my tears, left and quickly returned with a stack of papers and pen. I tried to seat up from my meditation posture, but my body felt stiff as tears rolled down my face. With trembling fingers, I started Reflection, now a collection of short essays. This one is on change.

 

The current state of our country calls for intense reflection. As I reflect, I am convinced that some things about our ways of living, thinking, governing, spending, and relating to one another must change or we are doomed. We can not fold our hands and hope that our world will magically reform itself. The price of bailout is huge and benefits those at the top. Prevention is better than cure. Obama, the new kid on the block, full of ambition and optimism is likely unaware of the enormity of our mess. Maybe that's why McCain who is a Washington insider was initially reluctant to make promises except keeping things the Washington way including the war in Iraq.

In a way I applauded Obama's change slogan. Sometimes I wonder if it can transcend campaign rhetoric and Washington ineptness. Change has become so critical that Senator McCain, who preached experience and the promise of keeping us in Iraq indefinitely, is now for the so called change. Reacting to our disdain for Washington experience, he demonstrated change like never before in American history by picking Governor Palin as his running mate. I overcame the shock by convincing myself that since politicians have rendered their experience inauthentic, maybe we need less political experience and more real life experience.

Like Senator Obama and his convert, Senator McCain, I believe that change is imperative. It must come soon and in a huge proportion. I applaud Obama for his vision. However, the vision is bigger than him or McCain, especially when they hold the title of "politicians."

 

My hope is that reading this article will help you to reflect on how you can join the crusade for change. You can begin by becoming an agent of change in your family, your community, your work place, in politics and in our techno-linked world. In a nutshell, I must change and you must change. The government and the governed must change. Wall Street and Main Street must change. The young and old must change. We, the people must change. It is our lives, our generation, our history, and our legacy. May our reflections serve as wake up call and a call for action? As Bette Middler sang, "God is watching us from a distance."