Help Me To Live
Introduction
Have you ever been taught something by a respected authority figure that you later discovered was wrong? Most people have. Growing up, I was exposed to a bevy of self-help books including, James Allan’s As a Man Thinketh, written in 1902 and considered a self-help classic. His thesis, “you will be what you will to be,” is seductive at first but when taken literally can lead to a disordered will, delusions and spiritual alienation. As with many self-help books, there are elements of truth in Allan’s book. Who can deny the importance of “thoughts” in our life? However, with further scrutiny the untruths become apparent. It’s kind of like trying to drink and drive. We might be convinced after a few drinks that we are able to drive, even emboldened to do so. Millions of people have thought the same thing, only to have it end badly, for themselves and others.
We are in a historic moment. A dramatic reckoning is under way in the West, especially in the United States. Philosophers describe it as becoming and passing away. What will survive out of all this? What will cease to exist? Greed is a short term strategy. But the wolves don’t want to hear it ─ Stop whining! Stop Snitching! they say ─ as they rape, pillage and leave people on the street, to die.
The growing wreckage in our communities is heartbreaking to behold but not surprising. The question is: Can America be renewed before she disintegrates? That’s up to all of us. But for us to participate in the work of renewal ─ within and among us ─ we need to struggle to put aside any double life and seek wholeness/holiness. In doing so we choose to live ─ really live. Then we can help each other live.
The present difficulties can cause intense feelings of anger, sadness, even hatred. It might be said that such emotions are a positive sign of consciousness and inner life. Pity those who claim to be “optimistic,” “upbeat,” and “doing great,” while people are being tortured, companies are failing, and the ship is sinking.
As the disorder in our society increases, we experience a modern-day tower of Babel, with confusion and deception becoming the norm. It is quite appropriate, even healthy to react strongly to it. We should hate injustice. We should be angry with the monsters in our society and feel sadness over senseless suffering and loss of life. But we can’t let our emotions enslave us. Otherwise they burn our soul, forming a toxicity that can turn us into monsters. We need to act constructively with dignity as people of God, respecting and serving each other, as we work and hope for renewal.
The days ahead will be difficult but they can also produce new life, if we do the right things, remembering that we are not alone and keeping in mind the big “eternal” picture. Help Me To Live, is a book for these times, for people dealing with collapse and renewal on the outside and inside.
With your Spirit, Lord, create a new heart for us.
SW/July 2008
