By Lucia Amsden
“Be the change you wish in the world”
-Ghandi
During covid, I wrote a small book titled, Remembrances of the Past, as a way to share with my family some of the interesting characters and stories that are part of our heritage. The book describes how, as with so many of us, our hardy forebears left their old countries to find new opportunities in America. I describe a man who became a mountain explorer, Indian agent, and plantation owner; introduce our ancestors who were divided by the Civil War when two brothers became Confederate soldiers while a third joined the Union; recount how our family coped while millions perished when the Spanish Flu of 1918 ravaged the world. Our people went through two World Wars, a stock market that crashed into a depression, and on down the years through challenge after challenge.
Today we face our own looming threats of global warming, pandemics, and political polarization; the stakes are very high. And as discussed in this message, each generation shifts from their old normal to their new one, integrating their own experiences and moving on. That, of course, includes us. It is in the present moment that we change, and this entire series of messages has altered the way I relate to myself and the world.
Now, when I ground my energy or tap into the flow of my breathing, I do so with enhanced understanding, focus, and intent. I have become more aware of my energy system and my inner strength. Through daily practice, my energy grows and am I less scattered. As I smooth out my responses to irritations and frustrations, I feel more clear and easy.
I carry the intent of opening my heart more widely to myself and others; smiling at a stranger, calling a friend who would appreciate a kind word, or just taking pauses in my day to enjoy being quiet within myself. I am moving from a focus of “me” into one of “us.” The meditations throughout this entire series have expanded my identity to include my community, world, and Universe.
One of my favorite songs is “Anthem,” written by Leonard Cohen. Part of the song that touches me deeply each time I hear is::
“Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in
That’s how the light gets in.”
To me that means that nothing is complete and perfect in and of itself because everything is connected. What may seem like imperfections, are openings to each other and the Universe.
The simple act of paying attention and responding to the needs of our fellow humans and the earth that sustains us is a powerful part of how the “the light gets in.”
