Conversation Three (in the Desert Odyssey virtual relational platform series) ~ Collateral Beauty
In a world that values and even worships strident individualism, how do we bridge the divide and the space between that individualism and our human connectedness? It has become clear hasn’t it, that even the virus connects us, yet we deny the connections that we artificially divide by ethnicity, language, socio-economic status, political affiliation, nationality, blue and white collar work, religion.
Augustine of Hippo is quoted as saying that evil is nothing – no-thing. It is ‘no thing’ in that is does not have a life of its own but exists only in the absence of. That’s why we speak of injustice (absence of justice), inequality (absence of equality). Evil thrives because good doesn’t. SAR-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, exists and we see its effects only because it is able to attach itself to healthy living cells. Viruses are not living organisms. It needs a host, living cells, to proliferate. By Augustine’s definition (which I happen to agree with), a virus is nothing – not-a-thing. This in the sense that is does not have a life of its own but thrives and multiplies in the presence of what’s good.
In the 13th Century, the Persian Poet Jalaludin Rumi, composed a beautiful poem that looks at our life as a guest house, a dwelling we inhabit, but only for the span of our humanity. A number of us are taking the time to spring clean our houses during this lockdown. Perhaps we need to embark on a deeper spring cleaning of our inner houses. Then perhaps we might create space to invite others into our houses to celebrate our connectedness, and to address the things that divide us.
The Guest House
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
Some momentary awareness comes
As an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows,
Who violently sweep your house
Empty of its furniture,
Still, treat each guest honourably.
He may be clearing you out
For some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
Meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
Because each has been sent
As a guide from beyond.
• If I am brutally honest, what might I find in my ‘house’ that needs to be cleaned out?
• Describe a moment of great pain and how that ‘clearing out’ made room for ‘some new delight’. What collateral beauty was I able to find/experience?