The Good Life Part 2

November 16, 2024

The Good Life Part 2

Good friends and good family represent the good life. Pleasant surroundings and the infinite gifts of nature also make our lives good. Then there is good food, music, and celebration that bring even more goodness to life. Most of these are available to each of us. But there are people who live in starvation and in terror. The good life is far away from these precious souls.

How do we enjoy the good life when many of our fellow human beings cannot? Should we feel guilty because we have so much while others are deprived? These questions haunt many people who live in relative luxury but are also conscious of the suffering in the world. These dear souls have the means to do something about the world and its suffering, and many are lovingly responsive.

Yet so many dear souls in relative luxury and who have the means to help are oblivious to the needs of others. Some of us are unaware that we are connected to everyone on the planet and that the ripple effect comes back to us. But for some it’s difficult to realize that we are not immune to deprivation and suffering, and that things can change on a dime. We have all had periods when we felt excluded, deprived, and unable to get ahead — and it can happen again. In consciousness we recognize that we are not above being deprived as are many people; the worldwide family includes all of us.

Manifesting our connection to others in the human family is an act of soul. For example, even giving to the local food bank or volunteering with Habitat for Humanity are responses to the world’s suffering. When we give our time and our talents, we reach people we do not even know. Anything that our hearts give to the common good benefits the world as a whole and reminds us of our connection to it.

Dear souls oblivious to the needs of others may not be aware that they have serious needs of their own. They may not need money, land, or a home in which to live. Perhaps they have family, beautiful experiences, or respected places in the community. But if they are oblivious to human need, they are poverty-stricken. When we are in that space, we are poverty-stricken too. I am speaking about a poverty of the soul. Deep down, our souls yearn to help those who suffer. But our unhealthy egos want to distance ourselves from suffering. But the soul wants to help its brothers and sisters. Sadly, however, our ego takes over, and our energies go into avoiding, self- comfort and meeting our desires.

Ironically, the more focused we are on our unhealthy ego’s strivings, to the exclusion of our soul’s sincere yearnings, the less real satisfaction we have. In fact, we suffer when we are disconnected from our souls. But we are so disconnected that we don’t even know where the loneliness, pain, and emptiness come from. Our souls can be poverty-stricken, even in “The American Good Life. 

Spiritual practice: After reaching out to someone in need, and meeting that need at least in part, what feelings does it give you?

Self-inquiry: Why is it more difficult to have compassion for those we do not know than for those we know and love?

Dear God,

I pray to be more aware of the needs around me and those far from me. Give me the strength and courage to put my soul into action for them. I pray to make my soul rich with your love. Amen