From the Chapter: Why are we Taking Sides? A Gentle Inquiry into our Madness.

If peace and unity is what you desire then why are we taking sides against ourselves?

Dearest Citizens of Earth identifying themselves as Americans,

Oh my goodness…what are we doing….? Where to begin…? Perhaps, there is no beginning or end, yet an ongoing call of attention towards awakening unto more inclusive Conscious Clarity and Human Possibility. It really does seem like we have made a beautiful mess out of things – doesn’t it – out of almost practically everything – by trying to be the greatest, most powerful, most intelligent, most lucrative, resourceful, respected, and most knowledgeable group of people on the planet. YET, in terms of a human collective, what have we really evolved into – what seems more accurate? 

That we are a divided nation living in fear or a unified nation LOVING Fearlessly?

When we ask deeply honest introspective questions like that, we may wake up a little bit more to an inconvenient yet irrefutable answer – a humble reality suggesting this: That we are not the nation or individuals we are assuming and believing ourselves to be, regardless of how we identify ourselves. Do we not see that we (humanity), as a global collective, are the ones creating the very local, national, and global human condition and divisions we are so desperately trying to transform? We are entering into new depths of self honesty which will most likely feel uncomfortable, yet may offer some compassionate relief as well. So, let us entertain a short lighthearted story in order to ease into our discoveries:

There were once 5 beings identifying themselves as either Democrat, Republican, Christian, Doctor, or Atheist walking together through the forest when they came upon a woman lying on the side of the path. She was breathing heavily and appeared to be dehydrated – nearly completely unconscious. Barely audible to the human ear, she was muttering, “waaatttteeeeer.” The Doctor knelt down to assess the situation and said, “Yes, she is dehydrated.” All five of them looked at one another as he stood up, “Let’s find some water.” They all agreed. The Democrat questioned, “How? I don’t have anything to carry water, do any of you?” “No” the rest of them replied. “Well,” pointing in the direction of a stream about 50 yards away, the Atheist remarked, “Let’s go there and figure out a way to carry water.” Each of them found their way down to the stream and began looking. Even the Doctor left the woman to help since water was the immediate remedy for his new patient.

The Republican found a rock which seemed to have an indentation like a plate that could hold a little bit as the Democrat looked on, and said, “You know. That’s not gonna work” and picked up a sharp piece of stone and began chipping away at a small log. The Republican replied, “Mind your own business. She’ll be dead by the time you carve a cup out of that stick!” Both of them continued doing what they were doing, bickering at one another. The Doctor jumped in telling them to calm down and stay focused. “You may need a bigger rock with a deeper crevice” the Doctor politely shared with the Republican, and further added, “The Democrat may be right this time.” The Doctor then looked at the snickering Democrat and said, “You know what? The Republican may be right this time, as well! It will probably take 3 hours to carve a cup out of that piece of wood.” 

In the mean while, the Christian was still looking for a means of carrying water and asked the Atheist, “How’s it going?” He replied, “I’m not having much luck here but it looks like the Republican and Democrat have the right ideas.” The Christian remarked, “Just have some faith my friend” then began saying a prayer. After a few minutes passed, the Christian noticed a plastic bottle floating down the stream, jumped in and snatched it up. “Hey!” shouting at the group “It’s a miracle! Look! This is it! The prayer worked!” Everyone dropped what they were doing and scurried over to the Christian now filling the bottle. All of them made their way back to the woman, and to their astonishment, she was now sitting up against a tree looking much better. Scratching his head as he glanced at his friends the Republican asked, “How long were we down there at the stream?” The Democrat looked at his wrist watch, “Oh. my, about an hour!” “I guess we just lost track of time.” They all turned towards the woman as one of them asked, “What happened? You look a lot better.”

“Well…I was running along down the trail trying to go longer and faster than I usually do. I am training for a triathlon. I think I ran for about 5 hours when I started feeling lightheaded but didn’t stop. I kept going. Then, that is pretty much the last thing I remember until I came to. There was a young boy standing over me helping me drink some water.” “Where is this boy?” someone asked as the group hurriedly scanned in all directions. “I don’t know.” She responded. “He said he had wandered off from his parents and needed to get back to them.” “Wow! That is amazing.” all of them spoke or gestured in their own way. The Doctor added, “That’s fantastic the boy just happened to have some water.” The lady said, “Oh…No…it was my water bottle.” pointing to her little backpack. “The boy found it in there.”

So….Do we attempt to overdo our lives by constantly trying and striving to become better, smarter, stronger, and faster than someone else – in just about any way imaginable – even to our own detriment – trying to live up to our unobtainable self imposed standards – and paying no attention to the obvious messages right before our very eyes – perhaps, to slow down, or pause? And, when help does finally arrive, does the very helping become a conflict unto itself – trying to outdo the other guy – distracting others – lost in over analysis – typically looking for complicated solutions somewhere else when simple remedies are typically right here in front of us?

As our lives progress, our inherent innocent simplistic joyous nature becomes masked by many layers of ideas, beliefs, identities, and motivations to find what we are looking for somewhere else, than right here now. Children are simple, joyous, peaceful, happy, and free, until we program and convince them otherwise. They are NOT political NOR do they claim to be a Republican or Democratic Identity. We were once those children AND still are! However, we are proving time and time again that we are innocently lost – somehow – in the confusing Mystery of Life. In Human Form, we are always children of life wielding the capacity to wakeup from our complicated mental madness veiling the trueness and conflict free nature of this here now – simply being. It really appears that our lives are like playing politics with ourselves – in our own minds – constantly negotiating deals and agreements. In that way, no wonder our collective mentality is lost in the political arena of division, conflict, fear, greed, and unworthiness. 

When we take a moment and pause from our self judging, and ongoing accusations, criticisms, and blaming of others, we may realize we are doing the exact same thing as those individuals, governments, and situations we oppose – using the exact same energy of believing – this assumption, “We are right and you are wrong.” OR “I am right and you are wrong.” That means there are always multiple groups standing on the same mental platform claiming this: “We are right and you are wrong!” arguing with another group who is saying “NO. We are right and YOU are wrong!” AND, on and on it goes! Doesn’t that sound very familiar and very immature – as if two or more groups of children are more interested in ‘being right’ or ‘heard’ AND not consciously opening unto solutions and resolution – much like our present system of government? If you become still or quiet enough in mind you may notice those arguments are happening within. There always seems to be an ‘us versus them’ mentality or a ‘me fighting myself’ seeking to unify two or more opposing viewpoints. All I am asking is this: Has that mental strategy of taking sides against yourself or others ever worked in promoting unity or inner peace – ever? Really? Has taking sides ever worked in creating unity personally, nationally, or globally in the history of all humankind?

It is time to transform the entire platform, foundation, from which we continually divide ourselves against ourselves and one another; AND that means waking up from the limited foundational perspectives we have about ourselves, our culture, politics, religion, government, and what it means to truly be happy – to discover true everlasting happiness and fulfillment. It is time to be true human beings as happiness expressing effortlessly – as life itself – a more reliable possibility than the pursuit of happiness.

 is an option for all beings: To reveal the Everlasting Universal Source of Happiness – Reality – Love – Within. Which means: It is time for embracing and opening unto new and deeper dimensions of self honesty, and reorienting attention toward Sacred Processes. (visit: Discover Sacred Processes here)

Trustfully,

Peace President