“Re-examine all you have been told. Dismiss whatever insults your own soul.” ~Walt Whitman
Watching Les Miserables with my sons recently I was deeply impressed by the opening scenes. After the ex-convict Jean Valjean stole from Bishop Myriel he was given a chance at redemption.
A new sense of faith and purpose dawned as Valjean’s heart opened, touched by the Bishop’s unwavering trust in love and the soul’s basic goodness.
This message of Les Miserables is the same message that Jesus taught, as well as the Buddha. It’s the central theme of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, of Mark Twain’s Huck Finn & Walt Whitman’s poetry.
It’s what Martin Luther King, Gandhi, Einstein, Bishop Tutu, the Dalai Lama and many others have spoken of. I think most of us had close friends, teachers, grandmothers, uncles, neighbors or parents who did their best to live this way. In fact, I think most of us try.
“To believe in something and not to live it is dishonest.” ~Mahatma Gandhi
And yet, why does the human family as a whole keep resisting this shift in consciousness that the wisest among us have taught and modeled, for over two millenniums?
Over and over they have told us that all must be forgiven, that enemies are actually our sisters and brothers, that love and kindness will transform people. That mistrust, greed, selfishness, violence, materialism and hatred sow nothing but suffering.
Why is it taking so long for the Paradigm of Love- that the vast majority of humans say they wish for– to be applied wisely and widely? Why do we keep putting off the peaceful transformation of our world?
I’ve met very few people who don’t believe in the power of love, yet just as few who trust love and apply it completely. Why do we lack that Faith?
Why do we keep throwing nonviolent people into prisons, building weapons of mass destruction, making wars, celebrating greed and materialism, destroying rain forests and ignoring poverty?
Why do so many still resist living by the wisdom that’s at the core of all our religions, our best poetry, literature and art? Why do we continue to engage in and contribute to actions that insult our own souls?
There are many complex problems in our world that seem difficult or next to impossible to solve. Yet in most cases the solution is quite simple- what is needed is for Civilization’s guiding paradigm to shift.
That’s all that is needed. Once enough of us open our hearts and Trust in Love- above all else– our own deepest wisdom will creatively guide our decision-making and show us the way.
~Christopher Chase~
Related:
Paradigms are Made for Shifting
Creative by Nature 
Thank you for your efforts at the paradigm shift, Brother — it begins in each one of our hearts. Our own transformation deeply affects the macrocosm, since there is no separation.
Blessings!
Yes. We are all one with the universe.
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Without love there is nothing. Love would teach if we would but learn. To hear does not guarantee that learning will bring transformation. To achieve transformation learning must reach the heart. Some say ignorance is bliss, but I think it is the darkness of souls who are content in their ignorance.
Yes, unfortunately. Ignorance and/or lack of experience with unconditional loving.
So straightforward, and I so agree, but it seems that many hearts are closed, (for refurbishing?) and trust no more to the maxim of ‘give and thy shall receive’ , ’tis as you say, a lack of trust, or mayhap a lack of belief in one’s ability to love and be loved. x
Yes, I think so. And a lack of trusting probably based on a lack of experience with being totally trusting. It’s like letting go and flying, there has to be absolute faith. Maybe that’s why its taking so long?
A fine line between taking a chance and belief, total belief, in someone other than yourself. Maybe we are becoming too cynical nowadays, we armour when we should reveal. x
Wish I had the answer.
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I was fortunate enough to have parents who role modelled forgiveness, and a sensitivity towards those who made mistakes. I made many ‘errors in judgement’ during my teen years, and yet was offered a forgiveness similar to the one in the movie you mention Chris. If I can pass that on to my own son, that unconditional belief in the goodness of each and every human, then my parents’ job is done too. Forgiveness is a choice……not always an easy one, but by far the best option.
I feel the same way Anne, thank you.
True forgiveness is a gift you give yourself… the peace of mind is priceless.
Everyone in their own time will come to see the truth of love. Thank you for sharing this with us Chris…
Thank you Dave!!!
Your words touch me deeply… Yes love is the unique answer…Why don’t we have, all, this truth carved in our mind, heart…Sometimes i’am so tired, even desperate when i see all it’s happening in the world, in my “little” close neighbourhood…I have to let go, more than ever in these moments, to be able to go on to believe in human beings…Namaste Christopher and everybody here, much love, light, strength to you all…
Yes, its hard sometimes, seeing all the hate and confusion, the suffering… Love, light, strength to us all, its the only way to transform the darkness. Bless you sister…
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This world is almost like a spoiled child who can’t take a no, pick tantrums and just can’t see. And often this child will need something radical happening for changes to happen. The world is exactly like this. The world will be sleepy during those days it says when i studied the prophecies in 1986. Well, television, Pc, cell phones etc… are doing a pretty good job at keeping them sleepy. Anyway another prophecy was saying that this has to happen because now that the cycle of the apocalypse started, it has to finish and we have absolutely no control over this. Just prep yourself for the hard times coming up, that’s what i do.
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