Friday, March 9, 2018

THE ART OF NONVIOLENCE

All we have to do is open our eyes to the reality of creation before us, to be present to it, to take it in and honor it, and welcome its gift of peace—and do so within the boundaries of nonviolence. -- "They Will Inherit the Earth" by John Dear as quoted in Fr. Richard Rohr's "Daily Meditation," March 9, 2018

For many years now I have been drawn to learning unto doing nonviolence. Nonviolence does not come easy to the reasoning mind...or to mine at any rate. I often hold out We have ceased fighting anything and anybody as one of my favorite quotes, up there with Chief Joseph's I will fight no more forever.

Doing those, though....

At one time I determined that nonviolence must start with our thoughts. When I got the word that mood follows action, I understood that thoughts follow action, then I could accept that I needed to put down my fists, shut my mouth and not resist my jangled thoughts. It is those jangled thoughts, seeking peace, that were leading me aright...to meditation.

We meditate to get out of our own thought-mind. We learn to direct those thoughts to a higher plane deeper. Toward nonviolence.

The trouble with nonviolence...no, the trouble with our thinking of nonviolence is we assume that means we either go into the fetal position or become the doormat. Unfortunately, both usually invite violence if not physically, then mentally, and there is no God in either. The reasoning mind is such that it will ever resist that is the wrong way to view nonviolence...we must go beyond reason to love.

It is a fine art to actually do nonviolence. It is the same fine art as coming to believe, then living in trust, that God has our back. Ah, but when we know it, we show it, and we are at peace.

Thank you.

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