Corrupt authoritarians use scarcity as a weapon or threat to cause fear in the populace in order to manipulate them by claiming to be their savior. We can choose to become fearful, or to face down the threat. Fearing and fretting about scarcity is a waste of life energy. Those who seek to enslave us will insist that we endure our plight and work harder, produce more for our masters. But they do little or nothing to help. In fact, they add more blocks and hardships for us to make ends meet.
We can overcome claims of scarcity and discover we are enough. We can regain the higher vision and participate in the creation of the world.
I propose the following progression as a help to change our perspective away from the current regime’s fear mongering.
Jesus demonstrated this progression in the feeding of the five thousand, an incident described in all four gospels (Matthew 14:13–21, Mark 6:31–44, Luke 9:12–17, and John 6:1–14). The story demonstrates the universal phenomenon of small particles making the greater whole:
tiny particles of dust draw together and form a massive and powerful star which blazes forth for billions of years;
tiny seeds are buried out of sight and grow into a massive tree reproducing thousands of seeds every year for potentially longer than any of us will live.
For purpose of this essay, I seem to over-simplify. But in the complex circumstances of the world, we will probably apply variations of this process to create many solutions.
The Challenge
In the story, Jesus’ disciples became concerned that the large crowd which had gathered around Jesus in a remote place needed food, or there would be dire consequences. We do not deny the need. In fact, it is our oppressors in the world’s richest country crying scarcity whose behavior of hoarding wealth is a denial of the need.
“We can’t afford to feed school children.”
“We can’t afford to provide social security to the seniors.”
“We can’t afford to have national parks.”
“We can’t afford to fund medical research, disease protection, or competent health care professionals.”
“We can’t afford to keep the seas and atmosphere clean.”
“We can’t afford to provide quality education.”
“We can’t afford to help other nations in dire need.”
The Conventional Solution
Rather than represent the people’s needs, oppressors tell their underlings to get to work. The pressures of the world will harass us to do what we’re told and not think about it. But there is a greater reality of freedom which we can enter regardless of the regime’s threats.
The solutions and jobs we have should be viewed as creative opportunities we engage in because of the creative energy in our souls. Obligation, panic, fear, and pressure can be catalysts to take action, but cannot sustain us and should not be our primary reason. This attitude only maintains the current rat race driving us into early graves.
Instead of fretting over the need or challenge, we can proceed as agents of creation in this day like Jesus did in his time and place. Whether we view Jesus’ demonstration as a miracle of multiplying bread and fish spontaneously, or inspiring generosity in the crowd, the accomplishment was based on the attitude in which he conducted his life. We can gain that attitude by first doing what I call “The Pause”.
The Pause
(See other places where I discuss this in September 2021, and in my book Your Table of Creation.)
First, we stop, calm our minds, and wait to remember what peace feels like. We might wish for it. We might feel a prompt to admit (or worry about) our need. This could be called confession but is not necessarily about being sorry for “sins.”
We confess our limits. We acknowledge the need and whatever fear or panic we feel. We admit we are in a quandary as to how to deal with the need.
In the story, Jesus’ disciples show a willingness to do the unconventional and to walk into the unknown. Whether we feel like it or not, we express our willingness to allow the current challenge to reveal new ways to walk through it. This is growing and learning. We become willing to do our part regardless of how small or ineffectual it may seem.
Material Meets Spiritual
Jesus did not spiritualize the circumstances, but assumed all people are God’s children for whom God cares and provides. God is present and participating in the emergency, present like the air in which we live, like the ocean in which the fish live.
This is a combination of material and spiritual circumstance, an incarnational opportunity. The Larger Reality is being revealed, and we accept the spiritual eyes to see our True Self contrary to oppressors calling us “fools” and “losers.” Though we do not know the whole reality, we do know we are here with capacities to love life and Creation. We acknowledge what we do have, as Jesus asks in the story, “What do you have?” The disciples acknowledged the 5 loaves and 2 fish. They saw how small it was, but Jesus saw it as part of the larger Unknown. The small has a role in the scale of the universe. Many small parts are needed to make the larger body.
Receive Inspiration and Wisdom
In The Pause we eventually perceive things in new and better ways. Creativity is released from denial and negative bondage. Ideas arise that energize hope. We can Imagine ourselves being enough. Imagination is the gateway of reality into our hearts.
We begin to Trust that good will come in the unknown ahead. We begin expecting good to be revealed in response to the solutions forming in our imagination.
The Action of Faith
How does the spiritual become concrete? All the interior work done in our souls during The Pause energizes us to take action in our concrete circumstances, activating the capacities we have, using the materials at hand. I find that I need The Pause every day to keep me wisely productive in my contribution to the greater need.
The impulse and time arrives for us to do our authentic work: Design, plan, organize. Gather assets, materials, technology, collaborators to make the solution that is being inspired.
This progression eventually becomes something that we offer humbly toward the need or challenge. We generously make it known, advertise, promote, distribute. Something new and often surprising begins to grow as a result.
Note the Multiplication
Others begin to revive in hope and take courage to do their part. Like a chain reaction people turn from panic and fear to constructive action forming new relationships of mutual help and collaboration. Isolation gives way to community. Besides meeting the immediate need, a new set of possibilities is created.
It was not out of nothing. We discovered a new combination of what we could access or already had. New attitudes emerged in the recipients of our action, inspiring them to discover their True Self as we had. Potentials that had been latent or dormant or considered too small and unworthy sprouted a new Goodness.
We are seeing ourselves evolving by our creation overcoming the threat. Small, like a seed, becomes more. Few become many.
This Experience is Memorable
Because we take The Pause, new understanding of dealing with challenge is created in us, physically, mentally, and spiritually. This is repeatable and can be practiced on-going by reminding one another, personal discipline, and self-control. We gain new attitudes that change our worldview.
This way of wisdom is not a formula but is flexible for varying circumstances and can result in increased goodness globally. Our vision of an equitable, cooperative, and free society is sacred in our imagination and becomes actual by our patient practice.
Leave a Reply