Taking a Bite of the Pie

When I dare to be powerful -

to use my strength in the service of my vision,

then it becomes less and less important

whether I am afraid.

--Audre Lorde

Hey There,

The other night, I was watching an episode of Law & Order. It use to be one of my favorite tv shows, but I don't watch it as much any more even though I still love it. My new favorite is a show on HBO called "In Treatment." Have you seen it?

Anyway, tonite's episode of Law & Order is about these two boys, brothers, smart, good looking, great kids who never get any breaks. Their mom is a heroin addict, and their entire childhoods have been spent in and out of foster homes. During those times when they are back with their mom, they get beat on by the revolving door or men she has coming in and out.

Through it all, they still love her. Isn't that amazing?

They get into an all white academy/school where the rich privileged kids complain about everything. Yet here are these two boys with so little, and they are getting straight As even against the odds.

After a party one night, they get into trouble when a gang leader sets them up to look like they did a murder they didn't do. Cut to the end of the show, and the truth comes out. They get out of jail and have a chance at life. They go to find their mom to celebrate, and she is there in a chair, dead from an overdose.

They show affected me tonite more than usual. I have been thinking alot lately about the walls that divide us, and the ways that we are all alike on the inside. Yet sometimes it seems like we couldn't be more different. Look at all the people in the world right now in this moment. Rich, poor, hungry, starving, full, intelligent, privileged, poor, abandoned, driven, ignorant, open minded, judgemental, loving, hateful, happy....

Sometimes you might go into a place and feel like the people there are nothing like you. (Maybe even in your own home)! And on the surface that might be true.

I just wonder, if I stripped everything away, my past, my upbringing, my race, gender, religion and culture, would the basic human desires and needs reveal themselves to be the same no matter what?

Why do we fear each other so much sometimes?

When we fear that "other," could it also be that somewhere inside of us, we are fearing a part of ourselves? Fearing that "there but by the grace of God do I go" part of ourselves?

One of my sisters does social work, and I admire her for that. I feel like what she does makes a difference. Tonite I was wondering, does what I do really make a difference? I am sitting here in a warm home with food to eat and clothes to wear and more options than most people in the world have, and I am airing a show on how to create a healthy home, and the importance of getting toxic chemicals away from our bodies and our planet. Does that seem sort of pathetic and unworthy of air time in a world where many people don't have food to eat, access to education and even the love of a family?

Then I think to myself, we each have our part. We each have different talents and strengths, and in our own ways, if we can use those to make the world better, then we are doing something good.

Most of all tonite, I just feel grateful and blessed that I do have choices, and that I am loved. That is a big deal in the world today.

Love is the thing that truly does change the world. Love changes the way we do business. It changes our path, and changes our choices. It's not just love for other people, but also for the planet, and for animals. People who love the planet and love people, don't create dangerous chemicals and dump them into our food supply, air and water. The FDA doesn't love people when it protects corporate interests over safety.

Cliche as it sounds, sometimes it really hits me over the head and I realize so deeply that love between us as friends, as family, as people, is the only thing that can create a new healthier world. It is possible. It's a lifelong path. There are times when I really get it right. Other times I miss the mark totally.

I don't give up on myself, and I hope you don't give up on yourself either!

This show is a piece of the big pie. It's just one little bitty tiny piece.

If you feel like taking a bite, this is the link:

"Harmonious Environment"

http://www.zentertainment.org/podcasts.html

Peace,

jo