Holy Wisdom II

This post is about an issue that arose in the group last night. It is not exactly about praying the news - as in praying about what was in the newspaper or on the television, but what emerged in group meditation and discussion. Our focus this retreat has been on "participating in the soul's awakening." We were stumbling around with trying to understand the questions. Who is awakening? Isn't the soul always awake? Aren't we just trying to expand our awareness, our consciousness to the soul's level? Is it the soul itself that is asleep?

Somehow, with all the talk about levels of consciousness, ways of attending to the soul's messages, acquiring Divine insights, manifesting abundance, joy, peace and light, there was another level present. This was the level of: what do we do with suffering and pain? How can we live with such pain and such knowledge of the suffering of billions of creatures, including children, women and men? How can we bear this? What about evil? What about the evil humans do? Someone raised the issue of how to regard a recent news report involving three juveniles who seemingly deliberately set another child on fire.

Our discussion was unfocused and chaotic, with some denying that evil exists at all, others seeking to deny it any stronghold in their own lives, and others aware that they and creatures they love are subject to the pains and suffering inflicted on innocents or bystanders by other people who mean to do them harm. There seemed to be a consensus that evil or hurtful deeds must be met with compassion for those who suffer. What to do about and how to regard perpetrators of evil or grievous harm was more difficult. In fact, for the most part that was not part of the discussion.

But my heart hurts for these kids who did such a terrible thing. Should they awaken to the reality of what they did, they will suffer a burning pain within themselves when they think about what they did. Should they not awaken, it will be even worse for them, because they will no doubt continue to be in whatever hell realm prompted them to do such a thing in the first place. I pray for them. I pray they may experience true remorse, that they may realize that they and their victim were deserving only of love and protection, that no human being deserves to be so hurt. I pray that they may find a way to make amends. I pray that they may encounter what forgiveness is as or when they do understand the immensity of the wrong, the harm they did. I pray that their awakening may lead them to help others to awaken to the truth, love, light and power constantly available to those who love these qualities and their Source.

I pray for their victim. I have not heard whether this child is alive or dead, but in whichever realm he or she now is, I pray for healing, peace and much, much love. AMEN.