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Posted: May 8th, 2008 at 6:57pm
Richard Hooper—A Heretic in Babylon
Sedona, Arizona
May 8, 2008
Tales from the Light Side
Over the years, I’ve been accused by some people of looking at life as a glass half empty, as opposed to half full. That hurts. And as a criticism, it’s only half true. I usually look to see what’s in the glass before I make a judgment on the relative level of its contents.
Of course, I’ve attempted to defend myself: “Hey, I’m just telling it like it is.” Or, “I’m not cynical, I’m a realist.” When honesty prevails, however, I admit that I do seem to be more acquainted with the dark side, than the light. Why is that? Is there something about darkness that makes it more visible than light to some people?
Take the present times we live in. For those who see the glass as half empty rather than half full, there is a lot to be pessimistic about: ecologically, the planet is dying. We’re at war, and don’t know how to get out of it. Innocents by the millions are facing enormous tragedy in Africa and Asia. The economy is in the toilet, and the price of gasoline has gone over three bucks a gallon for the first time in U.S. history. Wah, wah, wah.
It’s easy enough to come to the conclusion that evil outweighs the good. After all, thousands of people are employed just to bring us bad news on a daily, even hourly basis. It’s a wonder we don’t all slash our wrists.
Reality check! This is only the bottom half of the glass. As things are getting worse today, things are getting better at the same time because the nature of Tao, the nature of the Universe: to keep things in perfect balance. Hate breeds compassion. Tragedy breeds heroism. Light follows darkness. Day follows night.
Time Magazine this week announced its 100 most influential people in the world. There are the no brainers like the Dalai Lama and Oprah Winfrey. There are the world leaders and negative influences: Bush, Putin, Hu Jintao, Baitullah Mehsud, Muqtada Al-Sadar (Osama, wherefore art thou?) There are actors, musicians, comedians, authors, architects, CEO’s, moguls, Net-gods, bloggers, sports stars and (huh?) fashion designers. But what impressed me was the number of people on this list who were not just influential, but influential in helping people and saving the planet. Here’s a brief list:
Anwar Ibrahim, a Muslim leader advocating tolerance, democracy and human rights. Kevin Rudd, the first Australian leader to formally apologize to the Aborigines and start a process of reconciliation. He is also the first Australian leader to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.
There is Bartholomew I, the Eastern Orthodox leader who champions environmentalism as a spiritual cause.
Michelle Bachelet, now President of Chile, who has been life-long defender of her people against the brutality of dictatorship.
Sonia Gandhi, an Italian, no less, whose high principals has made her the most powerful figure in Indian politics.
There is Madeeha Hasa Odhaib, who is an Iraqi humanitarian and defender of women’s rights.
Despite being the butt of some people jokes, we have Brad Pitt and Agelina Jolie, goodwill ambassadors and contributors to positive change in Pakistan, Darfur, and with work in behalf of children and refugees world-wide.
There’s Mia Farrow, whose humanitarian work brought the genocide in Darfur to the attention of the world.
True courage is exemplified in the by the imprisoned Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s feminine version of Nelson Mandela.
Peter Gabriel, not just another pretty voice, but also an activist for human rights.. Athlete, Lance Armstrong, doesn’t just win bicycle races, he works with dying cancer patients as well.
Kaka, the Brazilian soccer star, is also ambassador of the UN World Food Program.
Lorena Ochoa is a Mexican golfer who spends the rest of her time helping Mexican children stay in school.
The wealthy Bob and Suzanne Wright wage a global crusade against autism.
Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez, gets the truth about Castro’s Cuba out to the world.
Randy Pausch, dying of pancreatic cancer has decided to spend the time he has left giving his “last lecture” on living life to the fullest.
Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of Britain, is now spending his time working against global warming.
Michael Bloomberg, New York mayor, has a passion to make NYC an environmental model for the rest of the planet.
Larry Brilliant, president of Google, is a philanthropist and environmentalist.
Mexican billionaire, Carlos Slim, works for social reform in Mexico.
Ratan Tata of India has built and honest to goodness $2,500 car.
Mo Ibrahim, cell phone king of Africa is a champion of democracy in Africa.
Alexis Sinduhije, is a Burundi journalist who risks his life to foster peace between the Tutsi and the Hutu.
Along with the Dalai Lama, Oprah and a few others, such people exemplify “the power of one.” None of these people have to be doing the good works they are. Their “day jobs” would be more than enough to consume their lives. Yet they have chosen, instead, to give back in a huge way—a real inspiration to all of us glass-half-empty folks. They are doers, and they humble us whiners.
In case you didn’t notice, it is the very existence of darkness in the world that inspires such people to light, not just a candle, but a torch. This is the real message: good always rises from the ashes of evil. It has always been so, and it will always be so; for that is the nature of life. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
As for those of us who seem to have a natural propensity to curse the darkness, the words of Kahil Gibran, author of The Prophet, may be of some comfort:
“You are good in countless ways, and you are not evil when you are not good,
You are only loitering and sluggard. Pity that stags cannot teach swiftness to the turtles.
“In your longing for your giant self lies your goodness: and that longing is in all of you.
But in some of you that longing is a torrent rushing with might to the sea, carrying the secrets of the hillsides and songs of the forests. And in others it is a flat stream that loses itself in angles and bends and lingers before it reaches the shore.
“But let not him who longs much say to him who longs little, ‘Wherefore are you slow and halting?’ For the truly good ask not the naked, ‘Where is your garment?’ nor the houseless, ‘What has befallen your house?’”
Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to finish my half empty cup of coffee.
Permalink
Sedona, Arizona
May 8, 2008
Tales from the Light Side
Over the years, I’ve been accused by some people of looking at life as a glass half empty, as opposed to half full. That hurts. And as a criticism, it’s only half true. I usually look to see what’s in the glass before I make a judgment on the relative level of its contents.
Of course, I’ve attempted to defend myself: “Hey, I’m just telling it like it is.” Or, “I’m not cynical, I’m a realist.” When honesty prevails, however, I admit that I do seem to be more acquainted with the dark side, than the light. Why is that? Is there something about darkness that makes it more visible than light to some people?
Take the present times we live in. For those who see the glass as half empty rather than half full, there is a lot to be pessimistic about: ecologically, the planet is dying. We’re at war, and don’t know how to get out of it. Innocents by the millions are facing enormous tragedy in Africa and Asia. The economy is in the toilet, and the price of gasoline has gone over three bucks a gallon for the first time in U.S. history. Wah, wah, wah.
It’s easy enough to come to the conclusion that evil outweighs the good. After all, thousands of people are employed just to bring us bad news on a daily, even hourly basis. It’s a wonder we don’t all slash our wrists.
Reality check! This is only the bottom half of the glass. As things are getting worse today, things are getting better at the same time because the nature of Tao, the nature of the Universe: to keep things in perfect balance. Hate breeds compassion. Tragedy breeds heroism. Light follows darkness. Day follows night.
Time Magazine this week announced its 100 most influential people in the world. There are the no brainers like the Dalai Lama and Oprah Winfrey. There are the world leaders and negative influences: Bush, Putin, Hu Jintao, Baitullah Mehsud, Muqtada Al-Sadar (Osama, wherefore art thou?) There are actors, musicians, comedians, authors, architects, CEO’s, moguls, Net-gods, bloggers, sports stars and (huh?) fashion designers. But what impressed me was the number of people on this list who were not just influential, but influential in helping people and saving the planet. Here’s a brief list:
Anwar Ibrahim, a Muslim leader advocating tolerance, democracy and human rights. Kevin Rudd, the first Australian leader to formally apologize to the Aborigines and start a process of reconciliation. He is also the first Australian leader to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on climate change.
There is Bartholomew I, the Eastern Orthodox leader who champions environmentalism as a spiritual cause.
Michelle Bachelet, now President of Chile, who has been life-long defender of her people against the brutality of dictatorship.
Sonia Gandhi, an Italian, no less, whose high principals has made her the most powerful figure in Indian politics.
There is Madeeha Hasa Odhaib, who is an Iraqi humanitarian and defender of women’s rights.
Despite being the butt of some people jokes, we have Brad Pitt and Agelina Jolie, goodwill ambassadors and contributors to positive change in Pakistan, Darfur, and with work in behalf of children and refugees world-wide.
There’s Mia Farrow, whose humanitarian work brought the genocide in Darfur to the attention of the world.
True courage is exemplified in the by the imprisoned Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma’s feminine version of Nelson Mandela.
Peter Gabriel, not just another pretty voice, but also an activist for human rights.. Athlete, Lance Armstrong, doesn’t just win bicycle races, he works with dying cancer patients as well.
Kaka, the Brazilian soccer star, is also ambassador of the UN World Food Program.
Lorena Ochoa is a Mexican golfer who spends the rest of her time helping Mexican children stay in school.
The wealthy Bob and Suzanne Wright wage a global crusade against autism.
Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez, gets the truth about Castro’s Cuba out to the world.
Randy Pausch, dying of pancreatic cancer has decided to spend the time he has left giving his “last lecture” on living life to the fullest.
Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of Britain, is now spending his time working against global warming.
Michael Bloomberg, New York mayor, has a passion to make NYC an environmental model for the rest of the planet.
Larry Brilliant, president of Google, is a philanthropist and environmentalist.
Mexican billionaire, Carlos Slim, works for social reform in Mexico.
Ratan Tata of India has built and honest to goodness $2,500 car.
Mo Ibrahim, cell phone king of Africa is a champion of democracy in Africa.
Alexis Sinduhije, is a Burundi journalist who risks his life to foster peace between the Tutsi and the Hutu.
Along with the Dalai Lama, Oprah and a few others, such people exemplify “the power of one.” None of these people have to be doing the good works they are. Their “day jobs” would be more than enough to consume their lives. Yet they have chosen, instead, to give back in a huge way—a real inspiration to all of us glass-half-empty folks. They are doers, and they humble us whiners.
In case you didn’t notice, it is the very existence of darkness in the world that inspires such people to light, not just a candle, but a torch. This is the real message: good always rises from the ashes of evil. It has always been so, and it will always be so; for that is the nature of life. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
As for those of us who seem to have a natural propensity to curse the darkness, the words of Kahil Gibran, author of The Prophet, may be of some comfort:
“You are good in countless ways, and you are not evil when you are not good,
You are only loitering and sluggard. Pity that stags cannot teach swiftness to the turtles.
“In your longing for your giant self lies your goodness: and that longing is in all of you.
But in some of you that longing is a torrent rushing with might to the sea, carrying the secrets of the hillsides and songs of the forests. And in others it is a flat stream that loses itself in angles and bends and lingers before it reaches the shore.
“But let not him who longs much say to him who longs little, ‘Wherefore are you slow and halting?’ For the truly good ask not the naked, ‘Where is your garment?’ nor the houseless, ‘What has befallen your house?’”
Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to finish my half empty cup of coffee.
Permalink
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