Where Do You Draw the Line?
And a meditation to help you explore that.
Hello there.
After last week’s post about memorable days, I came across a social media post about Hands Across America. Do you remember it, or have you heard of it? It happened in late May of 1986. It was an attempt to create a continuous chain of people holding hands across mainland America. More than five million people participated and raised money for local charities to fight hunger. It was organized by Ken Kragen, who you may recall, produced the song "We Are the World." I vividly remember standing with friends and strangers, singing that very song.
Can you imagine this happening today? It breaks my heart to say that I cannot. Our country has become divided to a great loss. The event was largely a symbolic gesture, yet it raised money to help those in need. Our country has migrated away from unity, and we are less of a country and a people when we focus on differences rather than shared goals.
We all want the same things. We want to be happy, healthy, safe, and to be loved. We want this for ourselves and our loved ones. Do we also want it for people we don’t know? People we don’t care for? Frenemies? Sworn enemies? Animals? Plants? Earth? The universe? Where do you draw the line, if you do, and why?
The meditation below can be a way to figure out where you stand. As you listen, try to notice what feels natural, what feels forced, and where you become uncomfortable, if that happens. Also, try to remain free of judgment about your reaction. It’s meant as an exercise to get to know yourself. What you do from there is up to you.
Spoiler alert: I hope you can listen to the meditation, but I realize that many of you may not. That’s okay. There is a consistent reaction to this meditation. People tend to experience a newfound fondness for those they don’t know very well, the neutral party in the meditation. It makes sense. We realize that other people are just like we are, and want the same things that we do. Besides, people can be pretty good to one another. We tap each other on the shoulder to say, “Hey, you dropped something.” We hold open doors, donate to a stranger’s GoFundMe, and return lost wallets. We hear stories of people who risk their own lives for strangers in distress. It should give us hope.
Be good to each other and have a happy, healthy, and safe weekend.
May you be loved.
xx Page
Compassion and Loving Kindness Meditation
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