Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Brian’s Reflection: Wednesday, Oct 22, 2008


Joy, rather than happiness, is the goal of life, for joy is the emotion
which accompanies our fulfilling our natures as human beings. It is
based on the experience of one's identity as a being of worth and dignity.


- Rollo May, psychologist, who died on this day, 1994


Be who you are. Only then can you know worth and dignity.

We have so many people walking this earth these days who are forced to live a Life where they are not who they are. I’m not talking about folk with criminal intentions, etc. I’m talking about men and women who have been given identities and personalities and unique gifts by the Life Force, but whom Society keeps firmly repressed. So-called majorities repressing (and oppressing) “minorities”. Why? Fear that their own privileges and perks will be diminished.

I don’t believe that. I believe that honouring the diversity and the uniqueness and the graced gifts of every human person can only enhance human community. Enhance peace. Enhance security. Enhance wonder. Enhance care. Enhance understanding. Enhance compassion.

It does no society good to deny worth and dignity to any human being. It does only evil. It sets one person against another, and diminishes the outreach of the heart to fellow human beings. And. It does no good to lie about others, to “bear false witness” as the fearful do about those who are “other”.

Happiness is ephemeral, a state that rests on avoidance of others not “like us”, or on an avoidance of Reality. Joy is transcendent ….. because it is the experience of having found our place, as a being of worth and dignity, within the wondrous expression of Being.

Brian+

No comments: