As I recently hurriedly posted about a speech made by Warren Buffett concerning hope for the U.S, I found myself struggling with the concept of hope in these difficult days. As I've been reflecting since then, nothing profound has hit me, but below are my admittedly simplistic not-hopes and hopes.
What I do not hope for:
- a return to easy credit and houses built on the shifting sands of economic tides
- a return to the illusion that there's safety in amassing stuff or money to buy future stuff
- a return to every-wo/man-deserves-his-castle paradigm
- a return to entire economies built on the greed of some and the ignorance of others
- a return to non-local food being the most affordable option
- a return of a craving for large cars that can go fast but at a huge price that ripples out to the starving and drowning polar bears
- a return to the idea that if we can do something we should
What I do hope for:
- a return to knowing that we don't want to live isolated lives
- a return to knowing that families can share a place to live and work--maybe not 'their own' but where they can be productive and feel connected
- a return to making and growing most of what we need and bartering for the rest
- a return to artisanship
- a return to shared sense of caring for our children, elders and other marginalized peoples as well as the animals and livestock entrusted to our care
- a return to people knowing that their food doesn't come from stores
- a return to celebrations based on connection with the land and the cycles of the earth
- a return to respect and thus wisdom for how the world really works
Possibly the only new wisdom is how inter-connected the entire world is. Many philosophers, artists, mystics and some theologians have known this, but all of us are now experiencing this knowledge deep in our bones.
What are your hopes and maybe not-hopes as we move through this pivotal time?
Trailer for the documentary King Corn...if you haven't seen it, make sure you find it on NetFlix.
You'll be both glad and sorry you did!
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King Corn, Story of Stuff
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About Beth Patterson
The Virtual Tea House website became 'word-ripe' when, over a cup of jasmine green, I realized that the web has an expanding part to play in the communal aspects of spiritual growth.
With a master's degree in religion, my career spans 30 years in end of life care and child abuse intervention and advocacy.
Here in beautiful Central Oregon, my spiritual homes of the high desert and the mountains are both in proximity. And for good measure, four hours away is Grandmother Ocean and the stunning Oregon Coast.
I'm making decent progress on the goal set by my mother early on: she taught us that the goal of humanity should be to become ever-more eccentric, i.e. more fully human.
Entering the 'forest-dweller' phase of life, I am honored to host the Virtual Tea House for all who wish to explore how our lives are enriched and made new a thousand times each day by the spirituality we embody. Exploring this engagement together is the purpose of the Virtual Tea House.
Welcome! Let's have a cup of virtual tea together and share what brings us joy, what we are being taught by life, how we are leaning into the Big Questions posed to us each day in sometimes 'distressing disguises'.
Follow me on Twitter, if you must
http://twitter.com/MyraB