copyright Bela Johnson, published in The Maine Eagle, December 2000

We have so much to be thankful for in this country. Yet one thing that is often lacking is a sense of perspective. Unless we have traveled around a bit, we tend to take an awful lot for granted. And viewing the lives of others in dire circumstances, whether within the boundaries of our own country or in distant lands, is almost surreal at times. We are so inundated by creative media, whether it be through film or slick advertising, that we develop mental filters or wander around in a constant state of overstimulation. Either way, a certain amount of numbing is bound to exist within the average American. When we take time to deeply contemplate however, whether it be through quiet walks in nature or during some other form of meditation, we allow perspective to emerge. If we ponder the trees and sky and the ages of rocks, we can't help but be amazed at our place within the greater scheme of things. Conversely if we remain insulated in our homes with electronics being the sole means of connecting us to the outside world in any significant way, our perspective is distorted and we lose our sense of place. We lose our sense of the sacred.

While routine is a human comfort, getting stuck in a rut creates inner disturbances that affect everyone around us. We all know the feeling of coming home too tired to do anything but "zone out." Yet when we take a tired mind and subject it to a television set, our perspective becomes tinged with the reality presented to us through this medium. We all have a deep need to express something uniquely our own. But when we give away a great measure of our day to another for scale wages, sapping most of our energy in the process, there is little time left over for indulging creativity. As this becomes a pattern, we lose sight of our desires and our days blur together like the view from the window of a fast-moving train. In our frustration, we inwardly or outwardly blame others for our condition, especially those dependent on us. We curse our dead-end lot. We lose perspective. Then when guilt sets in as it inevitably does, we may seek to assuage it through financial means, again feeding into the cultural consumerist trap. We give from the pocketbook while forgetting that the best PRESENT can be our authentic PRESENCE. And though this knowledge may be deeply buried beneath our conscious awareness, it is key to getting us to a place of gratitude and connectedness. When we make time for expressing our uniqueness, our genuine selves, we feel more settled in our skin. We don't have to pretend. This kind of peace has a price beyond measure. We no longer need THINGS to make us happy. We begin to accept ourselves as part of the human race. This acceptance can foster self forgiveness when we fall out of balance. We can then more easily forgive others when they do not meet our expectations, for we see that they, too, are only human. This perspective leads to compassion which leads to acceptance of differences, whether between close relations or countries and cultures.

Marva Collins, famous for her work with Chicago's troubled inner city youth, says, "Until kids decide, 'I am a miracle. I am unique. There is no one else exactly like me,' they can never draw the conclusion, 'Because I'm a miracle, I will never harm another person who's a miracle like me.'" This is perspective, pure and simple. We all lose it from time to time. Yet in becoming conscious that it is within our power to ALTER our perspective, we create the potential for movement, growth, healing. We can soothe the raw places in our psyches and in our souls. We can mend fractured relationships. We can heal our world, one step at a time. For honoring other people leads to honoring all forms of life, including the life-giving planet itself.

As we head into this holiday season, we can reflect deeply on what abundance means to us. Is it heavily skewed to the cultural ideal, money? Or do we measure the fullness of our cup with love, health and well-being, our relationship with our partner or our children? Clean air, clean water, space to move; the scent of pine or wood smoke in the winter? We can focus on what we lack or we can change our perspective to one of abundance by expressing gratitude for all we deeply value. We can be aware of our levels of abundance relative to that of others. We can choose, in whatever ways present themselves to us, to give to those less fortunate. We can keep our eyes open to the large and small sufferings going on around us and share from a heartfelt place. We can gather the lost and weary to our dinner tables. We can make or purchase gifts which reflect something abiding deep within us rather than frantically scrambling to gather masses of meaningless treasures. We can take time to connect to nature and offer prayers to heal humanity. We can feel the fullness of gratitude for our abundant lives while becoming aware of whether our material abundance is contributing to or taking away from other countries, cultures, and even the planet itself. Let our offerings in thought and deed be genuine, remembering that others learn from our example more than they will ever learn from teachings we discuss but do not put into practice. Let our very most basic gift, that of life itself, continue to be a more pure expression of who we are, in all our unique glory.