Imagine

Some time ago I was staggered by the idea that the world really doesn't have to operate the way it does. Somehow we, by and large, have accepted the paradigm that "it is what it is" and we try to live our lives within the current paradigm. But I honestly believe that we don't have to live this way. Who determines the context but us? I think we'd all agree that it's a seriously flawed paradigm. Why can't it be different? Why must it stay the same? I think it can be radically different. Idealistic, for sure. But I believe it all the same.

I believe the underlying premise of the world has always been self interest. We see it in the form of greed. We see it in various expressions of power over other people whether it be militarily, economically, physically, spiritually, or emotionally. We see it in self-indulgent behaviors we call "the good life". We see it in religion. Most religious activity is focused on us, not God. It seems from the dawn of history preimminence has been placed on self and what's best for the individual.

Especially so in Western culture. Madison Avenue has built an industry on cultivating the sense of self in the citizens of consumer culture. So much so that we're demagogues in our own minds. We climb the ladder, step on and over people, sacrifce and steal to gain a bigger and ever increasing portion of the economic pie. We use God and religion for our own gain. We make foreign policy based on what's best for "us" no matter the cost to "them" and we call it patriotism. We seem to think that life and politics and economics and culture is a zero sum game and we compound our mistakes due to a faulty premise of self-defense rather than mutual satisfaction. What a vicious cycle. The landscape of history is strewn with empire after empire that have risen and fallen due to slavish attention to self interest.

I think there is a better way. I think that if we would try to live according to the best interests of others and try to help more people around us that we could have a better world. I'm not so idealistic to believe that we could arrive at any sort of utopia, human nature wouldn't allow it. But I believe that we could at the very least eliminate a portion of the inequity at the margins and diffuse the darkness of the negative effects of greed and self-interest at the heart of our world.

Imagine a world where people just tried to love someone else just once more per day. I think John Lennon would be proud of the result. Imagine if each person in the world who had an extra dollar would contribute that dollar to eliminate extreme poverty. It's a marginal effort with a huge impact on the world. Imagine a world where those that call themselves believers would focus on this single aspect of their faith. What a different world we'd live in today.

I realize this sounds like pie in the sky and like a bunch of crap to alot of people. Frankly, it kind of does to me too. I feel a little strange sometimes saying this in public. It's kind of like claiming the world is flat. People look at you strangly. But, in my heart I really think it's possible. And I think that in their heart most people would rather live their lives generously.

I believe there is such a thing as love. I believe that it's a higher law than the law of self-interest. I believe that if we think about love and the implications of love in action on our world that it would spark a hope in us beyond what we have previously imagined. If we were to "pay it forward", so to speak, imagine the cumulative impact this would have on the world.

The essence of love is to put others before yourself. To esteem others above yourself. To treat them as you treat yourself. Some people call that "The Golden Rule". That's fine. Whatever. Just as long as we take it seriously. Or at least try to take it seriously and put it into concrete action instead of just making ourselves feel good by talking about it. Too often I congratulate myself for talking about virtue without ever putting virtue in action by my deeds.

Honestly, even though this idea of loving others as I love myself has been on the forefront of my mind for the last couple of years I have yet to scratch the surface of what this really means. When you think it through the implications of this simple idea they are indeed a call to a spiritual revolution of sorts. One that stops me in my tracks many times as I consider the cost. Thoughts of true love are expensive thoughts. There is much less to think about and it requires much less sacrifice to live life by my own impulses and desires.

But, by faith I am labeled a Christian. Although I generally run from that label and don't consider myself a good Christian I do believe in the teachings of Jesus. As I understand his teaching, Jesus illustrated and demonstrated how to live a life based on love and generosity to other people. More than anything else I think this is what Jesus wanted us to understand. Even he though admitted that few people would accept this call. Like Mick Jagger said, "Christianity isn't for cowards".

At this point in my life I'm probably a coward in this regard, but I'm trying to gain the courage to accept the challenge. The more I think about it the more radical of a command it really becomes and it goes the core of every facet of my life. It's why I consider myself a poor example of a Christian. I do alot of religious things and say alot of religious words, but I fear that I'm not a real lover of others that Jesus said would mark a true believer. That's why I hesistate because sometimes I'm not sure I want to be that different from everybody else. But then I remember that Jesus said he came to divide people as much as he came to unite them. So I struggle indecision and I identify with Paul as he did things his heart didn't want to do and he didn't do the things his heart wanted to do.

And that's why I wanted to start this blog. Hopefully there are other people who are thinking about this and maybe we can share our ideas, experiences, failures, and scriptures in this regard and somehow get some strength from each other as we pursue a life of love.