I was watching one of the morning cable TV news shows this week. A guest was the author of a new book on the most recent presidential campaign. He was asked to comment on the current criticism that the change candidate Barack Obama was not bringing much change to the system in Washington, DC. This author responded that he disagreed with that criticism. He said there was indeed lots of change taking place, but that the change efforts were geared toward what was in the long term interest of the country. Such changes don't always make immediate impact, but require a certain investment of time, money, and effort. He then cited the examples of renewable energy technology, international relationships, and efforts to combat global climate change.

This line of questioning prompted my thinking. It certainly seems like a good thing to focus on the long term best interest of a nation, of a planet, and even of an individual. At the same time, it can be really hard to have that long view when immediate concerns feel so - immediate! - when we are in a crisis mode.  And the United States (along with many families and individuals) is definitely in a crisis mode!

Jesus challenged people to take a long view in terms of our actions and choices even when we're in crisis. One of the challenges is to work on spiritual growth so that, when crises come, we will have a strong foundation from which to live our lives and make our choices. Another challenge is to use the times of crisis to learn to see more clearly. When something bad happens, I usually get so bent out of shape through fear and worry that I just have to try to survive the crisis with as little damage as possible, and then try to return to life as I've known it. But my experience is that the opportunity to grow is almost always present when there is a crisis. That opportunity usually presents itself just after the fear hits. It is an opportunity to see myself more clearly and to establish or reestablish my values at a deeper level. Fr. Richard Rohr offers a perspective on this:

       God calls all of us to take the demanding and liberating path of our own inner truth (John 8: 31-32) and that means taking responsibility for everything that's in us:  for what pleases us and for what we're ashamed of, for the rich person inside us and for the poor one, too. Francis of Assisi called this forgiving the leper within us and Therese of Lisieux called it, the little way. It is always the way of courage and utter trust, recognizing both light and shadow within us.

      If we learn to honor and claim our inner inheritance, we will grant others the same divine donation. If we learn to love the poor one within us, we'll discover that we have room for compassion for all outsiders too, because we now know that we are all the same. Human solidarity now comes naturally.

       Those who have enough space within them to embrace every part of their own soul can receive the fully human and fully divine Christ. And the good news is that Christ himself will lead us on this path. (Rohr, Simplicity, 174-5)

This is the journey we are on as human beings - as spiritual beings. Our religious traditions can, when they are healthy, actually help and encourage us on this way:   the winding road through the narrow gate, into the darkness where there is life and light.

Thanks for continuing to bless me as we journey together.
  
Jack Price

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