Rumi said, “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there..”
People have their own reasons and like them, we all rationalize our thinking and decision making for the good of ourselves, to make sense of the world for ourselves. There are often no simple answers and we find it far easier to judge the behaviors than better understand the intentions behind why some people do what they do. This can be true under all circumstances as a part of how we make sense of the world and it can bring heightened energy under crisis...for example...a virus.
In a country of 350 million people in a self-centered and material based culture, it will be hard to get everyone on the same page. While there may be some choices that go without saying, like staying at home for the month of April (and half of March so far) if you live in states where this is the case. We know that pockets of people who think similarly will be doing different things than others. Think of all the internal battles people are facing, from very large to the basics. Here are just a few examples:
· Go to work or starve, lose house and (kids) become homeless
· Keep the family business open or shut down forever
· Hold out in the stock market or sell and take huge losses
· Wear a mask or not
· Walk 6 feet away from others or more or not
· Go to the grocery store or get them delivered
· Buy the house, have the wedding, do the surgery or not
· Separate from older relatives in some way or not
· Go to the doctor for something that is bothering you or not
· Retire or have the ability to retire anymore
· Volunteer or don’t volunteer and risk self and family
· Risk getting family sick as essential worker or catching the virus
· Keep your job with inadequate safety equipment or quit and maybe not find another
· Wipe the groceries down or not
· Bring the grocery bags in the house or not
· Wash your clothes after going in public or taking them off outside
· Believe this is all very real to the level of crisis described, or not.
Like the Rumi quote above, the ‘right’ answer and the ‘truth’ usually lies somewhere in between the polar choices we often use to create a more rigid paradigm. Openness and consideration is also a part of compassion. I’m not suggesting people are let off the hook for boneheaded behaviors like partying on the beaches over spring break...I’m saying many situation are not that simple for people living it as opposed to being on the outside looking in.
The number of choices people are making every day about their lives and personal safety along with the ones they love are enormous. It is easier to be empathetic when we slow down to consider the needs and struggles others are going through and it provides insight into their mindsets, even when they don’t share, even if we don’t agree with them.
All my best, Dave
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