#5. About Setting the World Right
"We're not here to set the world right,
but to see it rightly."
This quote is from the classic "Discover the Power Within You", written by Eric Butterworth, a Unity minister of 55 years.
Are we not here to make the world a better place? And just what is the right way to see the world? What if we are wrong about the way we see the world out there?
Out of fear that the U.S. could be attacked by Iraq using weapons of mass destruction, our governmental leaders decided to invade that foreign land to prevent such an event. Out of fear that a battered wife could be attacked again by her abusive husband using fists of mass destruction, she decided to shoot him in his sleep to prevent such an event. One is considered patriotic and the other is considered murder.
We look upon the world around us from within the scope of our minds and hearts. By that, I mean our perception (and interpretation) of the outer world is colored by our inner world of experiences, memories, beliefs, etc. So the way we interpret our reality may not be as accurate as we think it is! How can we therefore change or improve upon the outer if we misinterpret it from the inner?
Do you agree with this quote? What does it mean to you? What do you make of my comparison. Give me your comments now
(just be careful about trying to set me right).
posted by Virgil at 2:08 PM
18 Comments:
As I see it, as humans we live in a rough, confusing, beautiful world.Only we create the world we live in. I say the world is beautiful partly because I'M in it. IT is in me, through me, I am love. And so it is: Savvy
Hey there Savvy, rough confusing beautiful world? Wow! I see it a quite differently, you may see your world as a happy place, however, is it really? you say it is beautiful, really? I say it is a living hell, and it is people like yourself that seem to find joy in this place that disturbs me, there is so much hatred, violence, and corruption, we have been violated, a there is no virtue in this world of ours I have no disrespect for your thoughts about your answere or Virgils question and answere just that I guess I am fed up with people thinking the world is so beautiful. I see the world aS a living hell. Good luck with your thinking.
YOU ARE SO RIGHT, YOU ARE SO RIGHT,YOUR ON TARGET VIRGIL.As for Savvies reply, well, she is love. As for anonymous, well, you sure are bitter,I will pray for you, you are in pain. Our world is "beautiful" as Savvy said. Go to God he will help you, and put the love back in your heart.John
OH, my perception of the world we live in is not much different then what Savvy's is. My outer thoughts when I combind them with my inner thoughts and feelings are that of love for my world I live in.As far as comparing the fears that Virgil used, is good, but I choose not to let that part control me.I believe that I am here as love, to give love, and most of all to love God. "And he walks with me, and he talks with me, and he tells me I'M his own." On that note: That is what makes my world so right, so beautiful. No Fear, No Anger, Just Love.G.B.
Well, I much don't like comparing anything. But you do have a point, I myself don't like the world as I see it, to much negativity, no compassion, trust. I try to think positive about my surroundings, but let me tell you it is not easy. I don't color my world as Savvy does as beautiful, too much as a struggle, I can't stay ahead of the game. And as I can see so does most of your responces you've gotten. Savvy, wake up, the world is not as beautiful at all, it is a times a hell.
Anonymous #1
"I guess I am fed up with people thinking the world is so beautiful. I see the world aS a living hell."
So each person sees his/her world differently, depending upon beliefs, experiences, and memories. Is it possible for you to have pleasant experiences? Have you ever had any? I bet you have! If you could change your outlook, would your life then change in a positive way? Or do you feel doomed?
Have you been to a Unity church? Try It! In any case, I hope and pray for your success.
Thanks for your concern,I do feel doomed at times, but this something that I have to deal with.I feel at times a used person. I actually at times hate my world. Too much corruption, no honesty, no honor system, we live by lies and deceate.IT is hard to believe anyone. And as far as Savvy in her happy world, I wonder just how happy she really is, maybe it is all a front. IM not the only one discusted with this world, the difference is I admitt it.
How do I interpret the world? Not through rose colored glasses, but through compassion. Yes, there is a lot of negativity, dishonesty, hatred…...in “our” world; however, “our” world is not real; it is not what God made.
What ever is not of love is a call for love and those who are negative, dishonest, hateful are merely acting out as a call for love. People who cheat, lie, steal, murder and rape are wounded. (Show me a criminal who was raised in a truly loving and supporting family.)
Do we ignore and accept harmful inappropriate behaviors? Absolutely Not! The most loving response is to hold someone accountable for their actions. However, we need to feel some compassion and view those who have “wronged” others as wounded. In the example about the woman who kills her abusive husband, she is very hurt by his actions, and he in turn may have been abused a child- both are wounded and calling out for love. Are her actions acceptable? No, a more loving choice would have been to run for the hills!
When we (all of us are wounded, for we all have fallen short in some respect to some degree) harm others are not being our true selves- the loving spirits that God created. If we interpret the world from this view point, all of the “bad” seems to make sense. I do not condone harmful behavior, but I have to have this understanding of why people act the way they do or I would not get out of bed in the morning and venture out into the world!
The only way to change the outer world is to change our inner…to have compassion so that life makes sense, and we are at peace. Internal peace creates external peace…a wonderful circle isn’t it?
Hi anonymous#1,
Believe me I have my own issues I deal with on the daily basis.I'd be kidding myself to say that my life's a bowl of cherries. My world is beautiful to me. And I am thankful to be part of it. You sound like you are in great pain. Place your faith in God. With God all things are possible. Try taking a deep breath and breathe in peace, and breathe out your anxiety you're experiencing.You are loved my friend.
Annod
Well expressed -- compassion -- yes, I like those glasses!
Anonymous said...
“I can't stay ahead of the game. And as I can see so does most of your responces you've gotten….wake up, the world is not as beautiful at all, it is a times a hell.”
I too have had times when I thought things would never turn around, but they do. I had to go through a living Hell before life became so bad that I had no choice…I could not continue to stay in that awful place. It was only when I finally realized that my perceptions of God were not healthy that my life began to turn around.
I believe that our lives are designed for our spiritual and emotional growth. We have two choices: to grow from pain or to grow from love. Unfortunately most of us are far to proud to grow from love, and it is not until we experience painful events that we are literally brought to our knees and to some sort of real searching. When we search we do find…that I am sure about….
I read all of the responces, the only one that seems to be true at heart is Savvy. Why are some of you so down on her.She sounds so high spirited. So she loves her world, and she says "the worlds a better place cause she is in it". You go girl,(I assume that you are a girl)and maybe it is! I too see the world I live in as growing with love, and I'M proud to admit it. William
I often look at the world through my human eyes. Then I try to shift to my heart and see through the understanding eyes of Spirit.
The world is very confusing. I am trying to raise a child to be loving and believe in herself and others. This can be very difficult at times when we are surrounded with so much negativity. From media coverage of doom and gloom to removing the pledge of allegiance from our schools. I don't have any answers, just more questions. Our leaders and our congregation both are fighting. We want to grow and but everyone wants to blame someone rather than find solutions to the problems at hand. Let us come together amiably with solutions instead of name calling, blaming others for all of our own short comings.
Anonymous
Thanks for your comment. You stated that "the world is very confusing." It certainly is! But your intention to "raise your child to be loving and believe in herself" suggests to me that YOU must model that which the world around you cannot. In other words, I support you in being a loving person who believes in herself -- even if the world around her is so confusing. Good luck and best wishes.
Sandy said,
Thank you Virgil, I was very much in need of some comforting words right now.
One day a small opening appeared on a cocoon, a man sat and watched for the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and it could go no further.
So the man decided to help the butterfly, he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time.
Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.
What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.
Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life . If God allowed us to go through our life without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. we could never fly.
I asked for Strength......... And God gave me Difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for Wisdom......... And God gave me Problems to solve.
I asked for Prosperity......... And God gave me Brain and Brawn to work.
I asked for Courage......... And God gave me Danger to overcome.
I asked for Love......... And God gave me Troubled people to help.
I asked for Favors......... And God gave me Opportunities.
I received nothing I wanted
I received everything I needed
The Secret
One day, one friend asked another,
"How is it that you are always so happy?
You have so much energy,
and you never seem to get down."
With her eyes smiling, she said,
"I know the Secret!"
"What secret is that?"
To which she replied,
"I'll tell you all about it,
but you have to promise to
share the Secret with others."
"The Secret is this:
I have learned there is little I can do
in my life that will make me truly happy.
I must depend on God to make
me happy and to meet my needs.
When a need arises in my life,
I have to trust God to supply
according to HIS riches.
I have learned most of the time
I don't need half of what I think I do.
He has never let me down.
Since I learned that ' Secret', I am happy."
The questioner's first thought was,
"That's too simple!"
But upon reflecting over her own life
she recalled how she thought a bigger house
would make her happy, but it didn't!
She thought a better paying job
would make her happy, but it hadn't.
When did she realize her greatest happiness?
Sitting on the floor with her grandchildren,
playing games, eating pizza or reading a story,
a simple gift from God.
Now you know it too!
We can't depend on people to make us happy.
Only GOD in His infinite wisdom can do that.
Trust HIM!
And now I pass the Secret on to you!
So once you get it, what will you do?
YOU have to tell someone the Secret, too!
That GOD in His wisdom will take care of YOU!
But it's not really a secret...
We just have to believe it and do it...
Really trust God!
AMEN!!
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