In memory of the humanitarian workers
who died in Haiti's earthquake
You must ask for what you really want.
Don't go back to sleep.
People are going back and forth across the doors
where the two worlds touch.
The door is round and open.
Don't go back to sleep.
-- Rumi
These are confusing times to say the least. We run the gambit from hearing about Haiti, the Republican upset in Massachusetts which may cause a political tidal wave, deepening concerns about the decline of the U.S. economy while at the same time watching in great admiration the valiant efforts of those many search/rescue, medical and other aid workers in Haiti. They are absolutely heroic. It is a time of great extremes. It almost feels as if heaven and hell are engaged in a kind of cosmic battle right before our eyes. And, there has never been a more important time to stay awake and have the courage being awake requires.
This morning I am deeply touched, saddened and inspired by those many other unsung and yet most heroic aid workers who died in the earthquake in Haiti. Many were young, fresh out of college, young men and women who were trying to help Haitian children and others survive the unsurvivable life in Haiti. They were giving their time and talent, enduring the hardness of life there themselves. They gave unselfishly and died silently, moaning alone as the heavy cement hit their heads before burying their bodies. Many are still missing, many will never be found and most worked silently, invisibly outside the publicity of the media's lens, and to the best to which any human being could aspire. My heart and gratitude is with those invisible ones.
Martin Luther wrote that the battle between heaven and hell was fought in the human mind, where love was threatened by fear, where cold disdain and apathy challenged compassion and human kindness. Rumi seems to remind us to remain vigilant and awake to that challenge, "don't go back to sleep." I wonder if his warning to remain vigilant to the spirit's voice within is to remain watchful of any tendency to harden, freeze out our spiritual sensitivity and frighten away our courage. I wonder if he is saying that it is through that open heart where the doors open to other "worlds."
An image that comes to mind is a powerful scene in J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series in which Gandalf (the Grey) is engaged in a terrific fight to the death with this hideous dark power which threatens the lives and progress of those engaged in the battle between good and evil. It seems a good image of the kind of interior confrontation we might face to simply stay awake, aware and engaged in courageous goodness.
In the story, Gandalf fights to the death, eventually killing the "evil thing" only to return, triumphant and whole in the second book, as Gandalf the White. His courage, his passionate engagement had cost him his physical life when. he went down with the dark force which he confronted. The result was a kind of matruation, evolution which transformed him into a more powerful spiritual aliveness that does cross the threshold between worlds. This is also a call to stay awake in these confusing times, stay conscious and mindful, listen to our hearts, allow our love to flow courageously, fearlessly standing up for justice and peace in our world, everywhere it is hunted and threatened.
Staying awake courageously means risking whatever it is we fear the most - in relationships, protecting the environment, opposing unjust political systems, war anywhere and everywhere, large or small, being aware of the heinous crimes against farm animals and having the courage to "go into hell for a heavenly cause." Dorothy Day,Martin Luther King, Jr ., Ghandhi along with many others along with those many compassionate aid workers who died in the earthquake, all were willing to dedicate their very lives with a commitment to goodness and the courage to stand up, stay awake and take action whenever and wherever necessary. The confrontation is rarely pretty and often very hard won, but on it hangs the future.
Jesus called those whose hearts had grown cold, who were apathetic and dispassionate, who cared only about themselves, those who used the system for their own gain, He called them "corpses" or "white washed tombs." Those who had the courage and vision to stay awake and confront whatever threatens life are saints. Vivid and powerful language, which only says to us how very important this must be to God.
This morning I am deeply touched, saddened and inspired by those many other unsung and yet most heroic aid workers who died in the earthquake in Haiti. Many were young, fresh out of college, young men and women who were trying to help Haitian children and others survive the unsurvivable life in Haiti. They were giving their time and talent, enduring the hardness of life there themselves. They gave unselfishly and died silently, moaning alone as the heavy cement hit their heads before burying their bodies. Many are still missing, many will never be found and most worked silently, invisibly outside the publicity of the media's lens, and to the best to which any human being could aspire. My heart and gratitude is with those invisible ones.
An image that comes to mind is a powerful scene in J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series in which Gandalf (the Grey) is engaged in a terrific fight to the death with this hideous dark power which threatens the lives and progress of those engaged in the battle between good and evil. It seems a good image of the kind of interior confrontation we might face to simply stay awake, aware and engaged in courageous goodness.
In the story, Gandalf fights to the death, eventually killing the "evil thing" only to return, triumphant and whole in the second book, as Gandalf the White. His courage, his passionate engagement had cost him his physical life when. he went down with the dark force which he confronted. The result was a kind of matruation, evolution which transformed him into a more powerful spiritual aliveness that does cross the threshold between worlds. This is also a call to stay awake in these confusing times, stay conscious and mindful, listen to our hearts, allow our love to flow courageously, fearlessly standing up for justice and peace in our world, everywhere it is hunted and threatened.
Staying awake courageously means risking whatever it is we fear the most - in relationships, protecting the environment, opposing unjust political systems, war anywhere and everywhere, large or small, being aware of the heinous crimes against farm animals and having the courage to "go into hell for a heavenly cause." Dorothy Day,
Jesus called those whose hearts had grown cold, who were apathetic and dispassionate, who cared only about themselves, those who used the system for their own gain, He called them "corpses" or "white washed tombs." Those who had the courage and vision to stay awake and confront whatever threatens life are saints. Vivid and powerful language, which only says to us how very important this must be to God.
Wow, this is pretty amazing. I love the imagery with Gandalf. Though, I find it ironic how similar that Rumi quote is to the book I'm reading. But really great insight.
ReplyDeleteYou are the best versed person on J.J. Tolkien of anyone I know, so your comments are particularly valuable to our discussion. Thanks for sharing them. What book are you reading (in addition to all those college books) ?
ReplyDeleteHaha -laughs nervously- Yeh, college books. (Jk) The Second Book in the Dark Tower Series: The Drawing of the three. The symbols are just similar, the open door (Like the one Roland uses to 'Draw' Eddie and Susannah) the two worlds touching (Mid-World and Key-World), to plea to not go to sleep (Roland training Eddie to be a Gunslinger, the first step of which is to not fall asleep because Susanah's split personality is dangerous) and finally the pink Roses (because a pink rose was the center of the universe and all creation in Key-World). But you're such a sweetie. LOTR is a great book, even outside fantasy and historical sense. Theres a lot of interesting spiritual insights in it. Remember, it was J.R.R Tolkien who converted C.S.Lewis to Christianity. :)
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