How Shall We Live, When the world Turns Upside Down?

​How shall we live, when the world turns upside down?

This is the question that everyone I know is asking, in one way or another, often from the moment they wake to the moment they sleep.

The other day, In a quiet moment when it was just warm enough to curl up on the sofa on the porch, I gazed out at the low, golden light filtering through the winter branches, and whispered this question into the thickening silence.

A quiet, relaxed voice somewhere down in my heart answered slowly, a single word ringing on each breath like the sound of a bell:

“Be."
"Here."
Now.”

(My heart was clearly more concerned with impact than originality.)

“What shall I do,” the anxious voice in my skull quickly jumped in.

“Let go of what you cannot do, and do what you came here to do,” the voice in my heart responded.

“But what about … “ the anxious voice began.

“Do what you came here to do,” the voice in my heart said, more firmly. “You have today. You came here for a reason. This is the only world you have. This is the only life you have, right now, the only opportunity to give the gift you came here to give. Those who seek to destroy the world in their quest for power are doing what they think they came here to do. Do no less. Do what you came here to do.”

“What if I don’t know what I came here to do?”

“You do know what you came here to do. Your deepest desire, your simplest joy, and the needs each moment presents, will always tell you. Guess, if you have to. Take one simple action, receive the feedback, and do the next thing.”

“What if I fail?”

“Let go of doing it perfectly – do the little bit that is yours to do, right here, right now.”

“What if I can’t?”

“You can. There is always something loving that can be done.”

“I’m scared.”

“You are safe enough, in the ways that matter most, right now – and you are loved more than you can imagine.”

The lump in my throat began to soften, and a deep full breath rushed into my lungs.

Since that day, I return to these words often. I practice self-compassion; these are hard times, and it helps to acknowledge the truth that we’re all in it together. I curate my exposure to news and social media, focusing on the things I can do something about. I refrain from reactions as best I can, and respond with small good acts: a letter here, a call there, a small donation, and random acts of kindness. Most of all, though, I do what I came here to do: I enjoy my life, I share the privilege I have, I tend the people I’m blessed to serve every day, and I create spaces for safe and sacred gatherings. I try not to miss opportunities to love – including loving myself.

I don’t know where we’re going, but I’m grateful for my life, and the opportunity to do what I came here for – even though I’ve probably glimpsed only a little of that, after all these years.

I know it’s hard right now. Don’t give up. Don’t believe you’re alone. Do what you came here to do. And if you feel called, please join me for one of our online or in-person events this year. There’s a power in coming together that makes miracles possible.

With all my love,
​
Hunter
 

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