There is so much potential for good in the world, for brotherly love, for peace and harmony. All the elements are there, here, with us, now, at this very moment.
In order to realize that potential we--all of us--need to address the artificial imbalances brought about by the dark side of humanity; the greed; the hate; the irrational fear; the racism and ethnocentrism; the religious fundamentalism which causes so much grieve around the world.
I'm a simple man. I'm not religious. I don't have the answer about the deepest mysteries in life, nor would I ever be so blasphemous as to pretend to be able to reach the ultimate understanding on those deep questions.
I don't know how the world came to be other than what science tells me (which is very limited, of course). I don't know what will happen after I die, and in all honesty, I don't care.
What I do know is that I'm here now, at this very moment, and something tells me that just being aware of that consciousness is by itself a very sacred thing.
What I do know is that if I close my eyes and imagine being able to reach every single needy person in the world, every person who is sick, who is extremely poor, who is disable, who is sad, fearsome, and to somehow being able to offer comfort, a moment of peace, of relief from pain and suffering, it brings me happiness; just the thought of it.
And it's great to know and feel that those desires require no recompense, no promise of an afterlife, no public recognition, no hidden agenda, no quid pro quo.
Of course, I understand that I can't reach every person who's hurting, who is in need. Especially due to the fact that I myself am sometimes sad, stressed, beleaguered, under the pressures we all have to deal with to survive, to keep a roof over our heads. And I understand that I'm a flawed person, who may not always do the right thing. I'm just a regular guy.
But I do know that I can do something, within my limits and my abilities. I can treat people with respect and dignity.
And you can too. Let's help bring about harmony and balance to the world. Some of you are extremely blessed. You are healthy, educated, financially stable, have a rich social life, have family and friends who love you. There is abundance of good things in your life, and you feel generally happy and fulfilled.
Others are doing so-so, one good day, one tough day, but we manage to go on with our lives and appreciate good things when we are able to.
Others need help. They are sick, infirm, hungry, weighted down by misfortune (sometimes because of "bad luck" or sometimes as the result of their own actions).
But here's the thing: Would you not share just a little of your good fortune with those in need in order to help bring about harmony and balance to the world? If you have been abundantly blessed, can you afford to "pay it forward?"
You'll be surprised about all the ways you can help somebody. Do you know that some people are so despondent that sometimes they make a decision about whether to take their own lives based on whether the last person they saw was kind and smiled at them, or not?
Knowing that although I'm just a regular guy that deals with the same daily struggles as anybody else, and who is limited in what I can do to help others, but who is able to do something, even if small, along with others who feel the same; with others who are able to give and to be kind and to help those in need, fills my spirit with happiness.
And knowing that if I'm somehow able to inspire one person reading these words to stop and think, and realize how much more they could do, well, knowing that makes me feel like a whole human being, like I'm fulfilling one of the most important "reasons" for me being on this earth--here and now.
But aside from the multiple acts of kindness we can all do, one of the most important things we, as a society, need to do is to free our minds from the evils of rampant consumerism, exploitation, and abuse built into our current system.
As more and more people are able to do so, the light of goodness, and harmony and peace will spread, helping bring about a much better world. Free your mind.
I'm not a religious man, but if I were, I would write something like this... Peace.
Happy holidays!