That’s the spirit: Piers Maddox’s Thought for the Week
‘Use your talents, time and resources as best you can.’
At the temple gate, when they ask you who, or what, you venerate, what do you reply?
I say it’s a global force, and a spirit inside – an urge to act beyond self, family or tribe; an urge to help fix this broken world and bring a better one into being. It’s a creative, positive and practical thing, and the global dimension is essential.
I say use your talents, time and resources as best you can. Get yourself together in whatever way you need. Nurture the kernel inside you. Let it grow. Let go of suspicion and ill-will. Be filled with the spirit: be part of it and it part of you – part of the invisible global network. Be its agent, replacing the bad in the world with good.
I say there’s a trinity to pursue and be guided by. The first aspect of this trinity is truth, and authenticity –getting to the essence of things. The second is justice, and peace. These go hand in hand: justice for people and planet; harmony with nature; harmony between peoples; unity in diversity, too. The third is goodwill and practical amity. Action expresses the spirit; warm feelings alone won’t do.
Think of it as god if you like, but not something to pray to or believe in, nor coming with next-world reward. It’s something to commit to and act for, without need or expectation.
Know that choosing to do the right thing (rather than the easy one) is an endless challenge. But when you see the choice it’s the only thing you want to do. Know that some things get worse before they get better. Know that we’ll all be dead soon – think of it as the journey to the perfection of humanity that we’re all on. Be double focused, on the distant goal and on each step on the way (remember: it’s not about you but what you can do). You can feel guided and held, and be calm and poised.
What’s the name of this spirit? Ancient Indo-Europeans had a sense of something that made things fit well together, like binding sticks or herding sheep. Egyptians once worshipped Maat, a goddess who personified concepts of truth, balance, order, harmony, law, morality, and justice. Other civilisations have other words. But language and symbols don’t matter, it’s the feeling behind that counts.
If you don’t feel it, don’t fake it – wait ’til it comes. But in that case the question arises: if you’re not doing it, then what are you doing with your life?
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