We are suffering because we think we're separate. Sin is separation.
This week I found myself disgusted with Officer Chauvin’s crushing the life out of George Floyd. I observed myself thinking, “Unlike that guy, I was raised in the United Church of Christ under a colorful banner of equality, fairness and benevolence.” Then I spoke to a dear friend who is currently in Minneapolis visiting her mother, and—by a Grace-filled connection the mind cannot see--I realized that what was happening in Minnesota, was happening in me. Separation. Sin.
One generation of us Americans after another has avoided, denied, tolerated, or been overwhelmed by the sin of racism. When I say, “I’m doing just fine; it’s those people, or that guy, who has a problem, not me,” and I deny that I’m suffering--that I have a problem with racism--in that moment I create more suffering in the world by separating myself from what’s going on…for us all.
Literally translated from the ancient Greek in which the New Testament was written, to sin means to miss the mark, like when the dart misses the board altogether. You could say that to sin means to miss the point of human life: to serve and bless the intrinsic connectedness of every living creature and all natural phenomena.
And yet, this is the human condition, missing the mark. By it’s nature, the ego identifies with thought forms (money, debt, insurance, political party, gender, body type, emotional state), and then sees nothing but difference out there. The more you identify (in your moment-to-moment experience) with external forms, the more your are unaware and miss the point of your connection with the whole shebang and with the Source of all.
In an article on www.worldblessings.com entitled “What is God’s Purpose for me?” the author writes: “Open yourself to the longing in your heart, pray deeply to know God's purpose for your life, and you will begin to see and feel and experience new revelations in your own understanding of who you are. As you move into a more conscious alignment with God's purpose for your life, greater light will begin to fill your body, mind and consciousness. This light brings healing both to yourself, and to all others that you may encounter. It even blesses the very Earth that you stand upon, and gives a unique and special gift to God and to all of life."
Get out of your mind. Double down on your spiritual practices. It's one of the best things you can do for the world right now. We don’t realize how often we are using this tool--the mind--in inappropriate ways, like I did when I thought myself different from Derek Chauvin. I repent in the radical hope of a harmonious day. I encourage you to do whatever it takes to live from the heart. This is what we were made for.
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Would you like to escape your troubles for a while? Try being of service.
First, here are a few things service is not.
Service is not help. Most advisors I talk to tell me that their why--their purpose in being an advisor--is to help people. Problem is, no one wants to be helped. When you help me, I’m less than you and you’re better than me. When you help people you stay separate from them, different. Whereas when you serve a client or a loved one, you aren’t even there; what’s present is simply beneficial connection.
You’re not being of service when you’re focused on what you can get out of the exchange. This doesn’t mean that you don’t get something out of serving another person or a larger cause than your personal self. It just means that neither you nor the people you aim to serve will have been served if you’re thinking about yourself.
Okay, so what is service? Service is work performed without any agenda clouding your intention. Because you give of yourself with no strings attached, you feel a scintillating freedom when you do service work. When you serve a purpose not--for once--concerned with getting something for yourself, you experience an indescribable elation and flow.
Why the heck would anyone want to serve? Because doing so connects you with God; it opens your heart…if—that is—you truly get out of your head, if you truly let go of the desire for personal gain. The experience of Divine love gives rise to enthusiasm for life, appreciation of beauty, virtuous actions and wisdom you didn’t know you have.
Besides bringing service to your job, there are food banks to serve and children who need care. You can serve the lonely by simply listening without trying to fix anything. You are of service when, rather than waiting for the other person to be friendly first, you offer an encouraging word. You are of service, when, instead of demonstrating how differently you think about something, you come with an olive branch. Make someone’s day today. Be of service. It’s a trip!
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