Detail of a stained glass window in St. Andrew’s Church, Ridgefield, CT
The Nightmare or the Dream
Last night I had a nightmare:
income inequality had gotten so bad in this country
that there was rampant anarchy.
The governmental system was so mistrusted and corrupt
that the infrastructure of our cities couldn’t be maintained
and they crumbled
dealing with surging floods, soaring temperatures
wildly stronger storms, and devastating droughts
perpetrated by our own environmental irresponsibility.
Huge bridges were drooping parabolic into the water below,
buckling, no longer passable.
The top one percent surrounded themselves
within the self sustaining walls
of assiduously guarded garrisons
while the rest of us
scrapped and scraped and stole and trespassed
like conniving savages trying to endure.
Disrespect of property rights,
along with widespread proliferation of violence and weapons
put everyone on the defensive,
quick with accusation,
while yearning for a quiet corner
where they could exist without starvation or affront…
Fortunately, I have a very different dream, too: an ongoing one.
Someone asked me yesterday why I was a Christian Scientist
and I said that to me it wasn’t about an alternative healthcare system
but that actually it’s for the salvation of the world.
Yes, it can heal the physical body,
but that is just a grace note, not the higher purpose.
I consider it no less than the ultimate hope for peace,
for the survival of all creation,
for nourishing and perpetuating every goodness,
and safeguarding the beauty and variety of nature:
a foundation from which we can build together
safely and positively
instead of fall apart, fighting against each other.
It seems to me our best shot
is to agree about a God that is beyond religion
honoring simple metaphysical concepts
like infinite Love, genuine Truth, and omnipotent Principle…
We need a central, exalted, compelling, moral compass.
We can unite around
the sanctity of Life
the solicitude of Soul,
the joy of Spirit,
and be humble, law abiding worshipers
of the one original divine Mind that made everything
enough to build the needed bridges
to solutions
based on inspiration, understanding, integrity and mutual respect.
Money cannot be God; compassion must be our currency instead.
We can cultivate the equanimity
that directs, drives, and dominates spiritual consensus
balancing needed empowerment with kindness
to get to the place where each global citizen can honestly proclaim:
“I am not separate from God.” “I am not afraid.”
“I feel loved.” “I have everything I need.”
Without that, we will forever fragment and contend.
I choose this dream
over that nightmare.
We get there by waking up each day
to who we are really made to be
and working hard toward
demonstrating that
for all mankind
right now.
Polly Castor
11/19/13
