02.05.04
I received an interesting email not long ago. It was about a theology professor and an exercise he held in his class. When the students arrived for class that day they found a large target on the wall. They were then instructed to draw a picture of the person that they would most like to get revenge on in life; the one person who had upset them the most. The students then hung up their pictures and took turns throwing darts at them. Many found it to be quite an enjoyable experience. When they had finished the professor lifted up the target to reveal a picture of Jesus, riddled with holes from their anger. He simply stated, “Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, you do unto me.” Lesson taught, lesson learned.
Now some may wonder what a shaman is doing talking about Jesus on his website. The reason is that no matter what path you follow it is a universal truth: What you do will come back to you. All of the great teachers, avatars, shaman, and prophets have spoken of it. Karma, the rule of three, the great cosmic mirror, the golden rule. These are just some of the names for the same basic principle. In the Native American way it is said that if you point your finger at someone, three fingers point back at you. Ya have to wonder what kind of world we would be living in if everyone kept this in mind. Suddenly the road rage would be gone. The woman in the checkout line would no longer be yelling at her child, but listening and helping the child to be a good communicator. We would live in a world of mutual respect and decency.
Can it really be that easy? Of course it’s not. The problem is that it requires a collective letting go of a “victim consciousness” and the need for control. So many times I see people putting others down instead of lifting themselves up. In an attempt to make themselves feel better they throw dart after dart at another person, not realizing that they are throwing darts at themselves. I believe that we are all part of Great Spirit/Great Mystery….we are all threads that make up the tapestry of God. If this is true then anything you do to another you truly do to yourself.
To increase your self-awareness in situations that anger you, ask yourself: Do I need to defend myself or do I have a strong need to be in control? Is there a better way to resolve the issue than through lashing out? It is each individual’s responsibility to determine what is motivating them to react in any given situation. We all need boundaries and are all entitled to defend ourselves from others’ attacks and negativity. The real trick comes in understanding your driving forces and “picking your battles.”
Gandhi said, “Be the change you wish to
see in the world.” We are all co-creators of our reality. If
we can bear this in mind, we have empowered ourselves to forge a better
reality for us all and have given ourselves the power to plant seeds
for change. So, save your darts for the game and send something loving
and constructive into the world. You just might like what you get back.
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