Pandemic preparing the ground for healing? Day 15 of 40 Days of Listening

“Aligned with the One are those who prepare the ground for all tranquil gatherings; they shall become fountains of Livingness.”

This is a translation of a line from what’s commonly referred to has the Beatitudes — a collection of seemingly paradoxical sayings from Jesus. Neil Douglas-Klotz, attending to the indigenous wisdom tradition of the Middle East and to the Aramaic language (the language Jesus presumably would have spoken), shares this nuanced read of “Blessed are the peacemakers; for they will be called children of God.” Check out more of his profound work at abwoon.org or in his book Prayer of the Cosmos.

These words have an added layer of irony as waves of humanity respond to the spread of coronavirus and COVID-19. Maybe, for now, becoming a “fountain of Livingness” would ask of us to refrain from in-person gatherings for a time.

And ironically, as we come to experience firsthand a pandemic, maybe we are called even more deeply into community. Maybe we are being shocked out of our normal to look more deeply at how we are doing this human thing…

Maybe this calls us to be more responsible to one another — more considerate — more aware of our connectedness.

Maybe (instead of being an excuse to numb out on Netflix or bask in some kind of privileged naivete) this increased “social distancing” can give us pause enough to see the raging pandemic we’ve been suffering from for years — the disease called “not enough.”

Not enough is brought on by the virus called fear. Symptoms include: self-loathing, self-obsession, hiding, greed/over-consumption, numbing, controlling, trying too hard to win people’s love and acceptance, working too much and resting too little, exploiting others and earth, etc.

Untreated, it can lead to loneliness, scapegoating (typically of people on the margins), war, the emptiness of materialism, and death.

Good news, though. This is a treatable disease, and community, indeed, is the cure. Through healthy doses of rest and of listening — to those on the margins, to the planet and the places we live, to our own bodies, to our families and close friends, to the forgotten ones, to the Spirit that speaks in the silence — healing is possible.

Maybe this pandemic is an opportunity. Maybe it becomes a time for us to take inventory of how “not enough” has impacted our lives individually and collectively:

— What/who are we taking for granted or neglecting, and what/who pays the price for that neglect?

— Where are we intentionally and unintentionally causing harm or exploiting another?

— How are we stewarding this planet, this neighborhood, this relationship, this body?

Recovery comes as we practice compassion, curiosity and creativity. Through power in together, we repair the ground and grow the anti-bodies to fear-driven individualism, preventing even worse diseases in the future.

May today be the day we are shocked into listening. And may listening lead us to healing in communities of practice.

P.s., Intertwine is postponing in-person gatherings for a time in response to coronavirus and COVID-19. And while we may not gather in person, this pandemic calls us to powerfully continue in the work that our spiritual community of practice is about — i.e., asking the questions what it means to be human and how to be that well and then responding accordingly. So, you’re encouraged to practice listening, to act with compassion — particularly with those experiencing significant suffering, and to create pathways to healing by developing and sharing your passions and gifts.

Some ideas for practice:

• Call a person in your life who may be experiencing loneliness or isolation
• Take a listening walk as described in the Listening to Place Journals
• Write a poem and share it with somebody
• Study up on your local, state and national elections and identify candidates who will work for healing
• Find ways to get to know some of your neighbors
• Practice daily silent meditation
• Fasting from screens and the news
• Staying connected with the community by sharing stories (blogs/short videos/pictures) of what your practicing and learning (email Mike at info@intertwinene.org or post/tag on facebook and Instagram)