I had a powerful rant built up in my head this morning; boy was someone going to get it. Dirty clothes, the habits of others and feeling unappreciated in the endless amount of work that never just does itself. Not really wanting to go to work at all, trying to find any viable reason to stay home and do something productive around my house because my work is lacking in that very thing at this moment, positive productivity.
But I managed to avoid blowing up at the Sleeping One in our bed and get Max to school without being directly cranky. Dropped Little Man off, turned on Amy Goodman (Democracy Now!) and began listening to the recordings of various speakers honoring Ms. Rosa Parks during her services on Wednesday, November 2nd, 2005.
The sounds of these voices and what they had to say was immediately moving and full of strength, far more powerful that any selfish and pouty little rant I could've put out to the universe about how unappreciated I am and how hard MY life is. I was instantly humbled. We all should be.
I've always subscribed to the idea that no one person's life experiences are any less or more substantial or meaningful than their neighbor's. This goes for leaders, public figures, artists, etc. We are all great in some way, we all have purpose and we all fulfill a life path designed for us and our interconnectivity with one another, spiritually or otherwise.
However, when I consider a woman like Rosa Parks or a leader like Mahatma Gandhi, I question this ideal I've held stead-fastly to all these years is tested. Only because how can one not admire and applaud the actions of individuals such as these? Possibly see them as a greater being then ones own self?
We know Rosa Parks wasn't the only individual to stand up and strike thought in the minds of others about civil injustice, but she was the first BLACK WOMAN to go public with it, in 1955. In the South.
We know Gandhi wasn't the first teaching a non-violent philosophy and unity in ourselves and within one another, this is traditional Buddhist practice.
When you process the very physiology behind what these people inhabit within their existence, you find flesh. Just as you and I are. Fallible and imperfect.
But when you process the action, I think that is where the answer lies. These invidious were not dynamic because they are or were any more or less "important" than you are, they did not have the answers to all the questions or a knowledge that we don't all inherently contain.
They were great because they were passionate. Because they inspired others. Because they gave a damn. Because they represented an ideal, a gift, something to strive for. Something to hope for.
Because they embraced and followed their path, openly, patiently and fearlessly. They were great because they did some thing to create change and forward thought.
They remind me that I am hardly suffering. That my energies may be best directed in healthier directions, directions that matter to the greater good, the greater love. They remind me that taking great risk is part of what creates the change. They remind me to be strong and say NO when it isn't right. Live with enthusiasm, to walk each day with integrity and give of myself openly. Mostly, they remind me to love generously and kindly.
I will always believe that not one of us is any less or more significant than the other, all life should be respected. I can though, certainly take into account the knowledge that it's what you do with it that resonates, not only for others but for your own spirit.
The next question is, what am I doing with "it" ?
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