A Limited View
Human beings are very much like icebergs–we only see a small portion of them, and nothing of the hidden currents which drag them this way and that. ~Father David McAstocker
Fr. McAstocker goes on to say: “I fancy that we would not sit and judge our neighbor so frequently as we do, did we but ponder well over the small amount of data we possess. We perceive only the external act, but nothing of the motive activating it.”
Often I have pondered this very thought while watching many times, how incredibly judgmental people can be of other human beings who appear different from themselves. So much pain is done to others as fear of uncertainty arises in the hearts of men. Tall walls of protection are erected in an attempt to huddle with others of like mind to gain strength. From these walls, we often hurl exaggerated judgments and opinions, or even shear falsehoods. These walls of fear create distance between men and only strife and war are the end result of such behavior. This can be witnessed in our personal lives, as well as in our national and international relations.
Being keenly aware, however, that nothing can be changed unless it starts within us personally, I prefer to first try to look within. Understanding my tendency to project onto others my limited perceptions makes me realize that my judgments are sometimes false. True spiritual growth and maturity brings one to a place of willingness to lay such childish perceptions aside. This desire brings one to a place of stillness and calmness, asking God for greater awareness, greater understanding, and greater love for ourselves and our fellow man.
Indeed, we possess only a very limited view of the other person. The heart goes deep and who but God, can understand it? This is not an understanding that one gains by looking through “rose” colored glasses, however, for as a realist, as well as a dreamer, I deeply believe that a spiritual life takes work, takes hard work, and it is never ever easy.
Human beings are “masters of disguise,” having learned that practice often from early age. Authenticity and transparency often came with a great price. Consequently, we have learned to fear others. Yet, it is only as we stay true to our deepest heart’s convictions of yet a better way, and learn once more to be authentic in all of our dealings that we find meaningful and genuine relationships.
With a greater understanding of ourselves comes a greater understanding and compassion for our fellow man. With a greater desire to deeply surrender all that we are, comes a greater desire to lay aside our limited understanding of things, as well as our opinions and our pride.
Technology has risen to its heights and continues to astound us. Therefore, I believe we live in a time that the human spirit must also rise to greater heights, and to greater discernment and wisdom. It does not mean that we over look the wrong doings and self-serving motives of others. It does, however, mean, that through our devotion and love for God, we begin to gain better tools in order to handle them much more effectively. This will create a better and more compassionate, and more loving world to live in. It is within that reality that I desire to live with all men peacefully.
Forgive Me
I have feared you because I have feared myself.
I have judged you because I have judged myself.
I have hurt you because I have hurt myself.
I have mistrusted you because I have mistrusted myself.
It was only when I looked within my own heart
that I began to understand you.
It was only in my brokenness
that I began to feel your pain.
It was only in my need for greater love
that I began to love you.
Forgive me! I was blind
and therefore did not see you.
Forgive me! I was ignorant
and therefore did not understand you.
Forgive me! I was afraid of you
and therefore I hurt you.
Forgive me, as I humbly reach my hand to you and ask:
Will you now, be my friend?
In peace we shall live together.
With greater understanding
we shall embrace each other’s hearts.
Compassion will rise to heights of love
and wounds will heal as tears will be no more.
Viola M. Jaynes
Jan. 2008
Viola,
This is wonderfully stated. It is the tragic flaw of humanity, this forgetting that we don’t know everything. How much trouble do we get ourselves into when we forget this? It’s a hard lesson some may never learn. How much we gain when we respect our own limitations.
Comment by SandyCarlson — February 3, 2008 @ 12:25 pm
Sany, very well put. Thanks so much for your visit to my site today. It means a lot!
Comment by Viola Jaynes — February 4, 2008 @ 1:12 am
Viola,
Thanks for coming back to my blog! I appreciate the time you took and your thoughtful comments.
My music is the audio on my YouTube videos. I create little meditations as a hobby, and I embed them into the home page. It’s just a matter of clicking on the code for “embed” and then pasting it where you want it on your blog. You can adjust the size to suit your taste.
I know there are way to embed audio, but I am not sure how.
Comment by SandyCarlson — February 4, 2008 @ 2:57 pm
Thank you Sandy, I will check into that. I think it is a really nice idea and I love that you have that feature on your site.
Comment by Viola Jaynes — February 4, 2008 @ 3:07 pm
Viola,
Thanks! I’ll link you, too.
God bless.
Comment by SandyCarlson — February 4, 2008 @ 8:44 pm
Viola:
Thanks so much for participating in The Seventh Day blog carnival On the Horizon! This beautiful post is a wonderful contribution to this week’s carnival. I absolutely love the way you write. Your observations always give me much to think about and your poetry is profound and resonant.
I hope that you will stop by and check out the other great submissions this week — and participate again in the future.
Blessings,
Hopeful Spirit
On the Horizon
Comment by Hopeful Spirit — February 10, 2008 @ 10:05 am
[...] Jaynes shares A Limited View from Spiritual Things Matter. Do not miss Viola’s discussion about our harsh judgment of each [...]
Pingback by The Seventh Day: Seventh Edition | On the Horizon — February 10, 2008 @ 10:13 am
I’ve been looking around for an answer to your music question. You might find what you’re interested in at playlist.com.
Comment by SandyCarlson — February 10, 2008 @ 11:01 pm
Great insight. You captured and expsed what we spend our lives trying to keep hidden. This piece challenged me to ponder its relevence in my own life.
blessings, e
Comment by Storyteller — February 14, 2008 @ 1:20 am
Viola,
I’ve just reread this poem. It is exactly what I have needed at the end of a difficult week. You are just the angel today!
Do you know the blog On the Horizon? Every Sunday Hopeful Spirit has a blog carnival that includes other bloggers’ best post of the week. You are free to submit one to her for inclusion. She is a wonderful person. Her blog is http://www.hopefulspirit.com. Please share this with others through this worthy site!
Comment by SandyCarlson — February 15, 2008 @ 7:56 pm
Sany, thank you so much for your kindness. Yes, I know of Hopeful Spirit and I have her on my blogroll. As a matter of fact, it is through her blog that I found you.
Have a super day today! ~vj
Comment by Viola Jaynes — February 15, 2008 @ 8:15 pm
Very perceptive as always!
I think that ‘The astounding rise of technology! is starting to impinge on the spiritual world as some scientists begin thinking about mind-matter problems, the nature of consciousness and the power of spirit or prayer for healing.
The Christian belief doesn’t seem to have anything analogous to the Indian Chakra system with meridian energy flows or the Chinese acupuncture points.I wonder if there is anything specifically Christian, other than prayer, which is believed to influence people and is therefore in principle amenable to measurement?
If the ’subtle energy flows’ associated with health and healing are identified with ‘The Old One’ would this be objectionable to Christian thought?
Viola, you see how your essay has set the neurons firing!
Comment by quantum — March 3, 2008 @ 9:36 pm
This piece really hit home. I was born with a neurological impairment, and mild facial deformaties.
Kids ridiculed be and labeled me a freak. They never tried to get to know me. Yet, their years of torment caused me to question my existance.
It took a while, but now I embrace my differences. I realized my “attackers” must have lacked confidence in themselves, so they projected on to me.
This story give inspiration and hope. Thanks for writing it
Comment by topebbles — March 4, 2008 @ 7:45 pm