April 28, 2018
WE ARE THE HOPE LEFT IN THE WORLD
“I had forgotten how much light there is in the world, till you gave it back to me.” Ursula K. Le Guin, A Wizard of EarthSea (1968)
My eyes came to a halt on the page. I closed the book upon my finger and sat, with tears trickling down my cheeks, so grateful for those who have brought light and beauty into my life the many times when I have despaired that there is any hope remaining; hope that the world might be whole again; hope that I can make any difference.
“The great and mighty go their way unchecked. All the hope left in the world is in the people of no account.” Ursula K. Le Guin, The Finder (2001)
I went for a walk. I sat and watched the Spring-thawed creek tumble happily over the boulders and brush, freed at last from Winter’s grip. I have felt like one “of no account”. And in terms of society, I suppose I am. Of no account. I have not done anything spectacular. I am an unpublished writer. I am an unemployed teacher. I am a very quiet activist. I’m a bit of a recluse.
But again and again I have been brought back to this: That simply BEING here in the world matters. And if I am willing to allow the Light that is in me to shine, if I am willing to keep on the journey that allows my heart to be open so that Love and Grace can easily flow, unrestricted, uninhibited into and through me, radiating beyond my physical space into the world… I am nourishing life. If I take deeply to heart that words matter — that there is great power in words — that all things are created through our words — if I consciously and diligently choose words drawn from love and not from fear — I am creating life.
“You can’t hide true power. Not for long. It dies in hiding, unshared.” Ursula K. Le Guin, The Finder (2001)
I began to scribble in my journal…
“Why do I hide? What Fear drains away the energy to act, to do that which I set out to do? Is my small act of kindness or my words on paper so insignificant that I shouldn’t bother — an insignificant drop of water? How many times over how many decades now have I heard that we are powerful… that we hold the Creator inside? That the power to create worlds lives in the cells of our bodies?
We are not, I am not without power. Love is not powerless against Fear and all that Fear spawns. What is intolerable is that I listen to the Lies and shut down; hide.”
And so I call gently to my Self… come forth again. Just Be, today. Just Be Grace.
And I call gently to you, as well. Just Be, today. Be kind. Be Grace. Be Light.
“Fear lives in the head. And courage lives in the heart. The job is to get from one to the other.” Louise Penny, The Long Way Home
MUSINGS from MARY 
Your words and thoughts are expressed so wonderfully Mary. I wonder about that same thing. What am I any good for. Others seem to respond faster and with more passion and get things done. I just ponder on it. Sit and wait. Thank you for the reminder. You truly have a gift Mary.
Pammy, you are one of those who have so often brought light into my darkness…walked with me when I felt lost. Your humor and your love of life and your compassion… these are light in the world. Just keep shining, dear friend! Keep on dancing!
Inspiring words, beautifully written. Often when I am made to feel I am of “some account”. I feel like an imposter. No account, humble, raw and shedding light through the cracks in our fascade; that’s when things get real.
Mary, once again you inspire me to a new depth of awareness and challenges. Thank you so much for using your knowledge, experiences, and compassion to eloquently speak life into our world. Press on, my dear friend, you have so much to offer. I’m with you on the entangled path … working on being kind and gentle… you inspire me to look for new levels as I find my way.