Who better than us?

Sometimes I slip into self-pity because of some slight or another that life sends my way. When that happens I want to just retreat into my little corner of creation, bend my back to my work, and focus on loving the people in my small orbit. “To heck with the wider world,” I think to myself. Then I remember all that I’ve been taught about finding peace within myself, so that I can spread peace beyond my sphere of influence as a part of a wider cosmic project. I remember Etty, Teresa, John, and most of all Jesus and how they have all taught me that there need be “no causal connection between people’s behavior and the love I feel for them.” I can be okay and much more than okay no matter what’s going on around me if I am connected to my Source. My ground and God’s ground are one and a felt realization of that fact is the pearl of great price, the holy grail, the thing we’re all looking for.

Upon remembering that the fullness of God dwells within me and is actively supplying all my needs, the self-pity dissolves in love and another feeling overtakes me: Who better than me; who better than us to face the wildness of the world head on? We are the ones who find the God-drenched world meaningful and rich even when times are tough. We are the ones actively detaching from outcomes. Who better than us to love difficult people and work to maintain our buoyancy in rough seas? We are the ones to whom Jesus said, “Follow me.” Who better than us?