It is not enough to do no harm, it that is understood as an absence of actively causing injury. Yet it's overwhelming to think of all the pain in the universe. I don't know where to start, there are so many needs, and it is impossible to discern which is valid-or are they all?
Activism calls to mind the people on the square with their signs at commute hour, Occupy tents, and noisy confrontation. But what if it's a quieter, more collaborative activism? Perhaps it starts with direct eye contact and a nod for the undesirable, one that is based in a sense of our common humanity, not a goal but part of the landscape of our own journey-whether we call it spiritual, emotional, intellectual or something else. An intentional turning to thoughtful response, in ways that are sustainable or at least real.
As John Mayer's song asks, who ever did change their mind from the paint on a sign? I'm not saying there's no value in an in-your-face, can't ignore me approach. It sometimes is the only thing to start the dialogue. But I find that what moves me forward is not signs, marches or protests, but conversations or other interaction with someone I find credible. It may be as small as an act of civility, or as much as a life-long example, but that is what moves the ball forward.
This four year hiatus is drawing to a close, and I'm lost in the jungle of choices about how to move forward with intention.
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