March Reflection: It's a Minefield Out There!
Let’s take a moment to welcome ourselves to this new month. March is a finicky mistress, to be sure, but it’s never worse than February. I have hopes, if nothing else, that none of my organs will let me down. I’m counting on you guys!
We find ourselves, in case anybody hadn’t noticed, in a major time of adjustment and realignment, along with all the difficulties normally associated with such times. Aside from the difficulties, we’re also experiencing the emergence of some pretty big lessons and even revelations. Trouble is, we can’t benefit from any of this yet. Even in those times or areas in which we know ourselves to be empowered or blessed, there’s still obstacles, sometimes even accidental ones, or those of simple bad luck, that keep getting in the way.
There’s no sugarcoating it: it’s a minefield out there! It has been and it still is. The positive side - the silver lining - of sustained periods of danger and difficulty is that we get used to it; in so doing, we do not become careless or apathetic but instead more astute, less panicked, better able to make sense of the terrain and to navigate it. Lean into that.
In the midst of it all, we are still individuals on our separate and collective journeys, trying to grow and improve (or being forced to in spite of ourselves). In this position, there’s two main pitfalls we should take care to avoid, and each takes its place at the opposite end of a spectrum. On the one side, we ought to avoid the tendency or temptation, in our travels and labors and activities, to stay in the shallow end, to fail to penetrate deeper into experience, life, and understanding. On the total flip side, we need to avoid going too hard too deep too fast and collapsing into burnout (or ending up with blood in the urine).
We’re all seasoned veterans at this point of an adventure through a backwards world of perpetual midnight. The moon laughs at us. And at all times, we’re at risk of seduction by the kind of dangerous, overwhelming temptations - beautiful though they may be - though it’s clear that in doing so we’re not only turning away from the promise of sustainable happiness, but are likely to see ourselves torched in the process. Don’t play with that fire.
Like I said, though, reality is what we see in front of our faces, and what we’re seeing is those damn obstacles and setbacks. Even when we see bright spots, areas of hope and potential, individuals with talent and the right mindset, it’s not possible for them to exert any tangible influence over events. They aren’t broadly seen or heard, at least not in ways or places that will make a difference.
Not yet. And yes, patience is still going to be a big thing even in 2021. I don’t like it any more than you do. Probably less.
There’s big things happening above us, but however they sound or appear, there’s some big truths that constrain them. Something to keep in mind is that, in a time when people have many needs, the time will come when those with the power to do so must meet those needs. Not talk about them or devise schemes to sort of tinker with them, and especially not to dawdle. If that doesn’t happen, there will be inescapable consequences. We don’t know what they are, nor do we know where exactly lies the breaking point. But it’s out there and should be kept in the back of your mind.
When you look at the great affairs of the world, don’t overcomplicate things for yourself. It’s easy to get down and filled with despair and just well up with the horror and tragedy of it all. But don’t fluff yourself, or even all of us, up to be something we aren’t. Generations do come and go. They come and go. That includes us. And the others on the planet. Life does not diminish, however, no matter what happens. It’s inexhaustible and neither increases nor decreases.
It continues on, and so do we. Just as all the waters of the earth flow far and wide, separating and always coming together again, giving life to all of this planet’s creation, we too are called to flow. Be like the water! Whatever difficulties or rough terrain you find before you, just do what the water does - flow into the next space, and then next space, and the next space…
Just keep going on.
We’re required to keep our hard edge, our guard, and our schemes, but it’s time for that side of things to make a truce with the more romantic, elegant, beautiful side of life. We need both right now, in order that we may offer ourselves up in service of one another and the great work that comprises each of our lives.
The wind blows, the waves crash, the fires rage - but, as much as is possible, in the midst of all that, grow your garden. Flow on. Tend. Keep on.
Let’s do this.