Humanity – Our Path to Victory
Celebrating freedom in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - photographed August 31, 2008.
Splashing and jumping in the water – meditating in the woods – hiking together in the mountains – playing games – laughing – painting one another’s faces – hugging one another – looking into each other’s eyes in trust – learning from each other – sharing and exchanging treasures generously – forgiving each other – preparing for and enjoying a feast – joining together in disaster preparation and recovery efforts – serving each other and working together – being victorious together – singing – dancing – telling stories … the wondrous gift of our humanity, this is who we all are and where we need to invest our energies, concerns, and works.  Â
Our life-giving humanity has been described in terms of needs and abilities by many people such as Abraham Maslow, a psychologist, and Ashley Montagu, an anthropologist. These descriptions include our needs and abilities to love and be loved, to sensitively and authentically relate to one another, to let life unfold by respecting the freedom and growth of others, to honestly accept ourselves for who we are, to appreciate our differences objectively, to have strong ethical standards, and to be concerned for the well-being of everyone. We also have tremendous capacities to be enthused, to be curious, to appreciate and be caught up in the wonder of life, to be spontaneous, to be playful, to be humorous, to be joyful, to show affection, to share laughter and tears, and to express gratitude. We have boundless growth abilities too. Today, step by step, we can overcome the failings of yesterday through our needs and abilities to organize, to communicate ideas, to be flexible, to be resilient, to be creative, to identify difficulties and find solutions, to be optimistic, to try new things, to be open minded, to listen to ones heart and grow through self-reflection, to think soundly, to listen to and trust in others, to grow within and beyond our own culture, to win together, and to celebrate wholeheartedly.   Â
This is our journey together. As Howard Thurmond, a theologian, has said, “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” So let’s “Choose life!” with our whole heart and with our whole soul and with all our strength (see Deuteronomy 6:4 and 30:19). In the same full spirit, let’s “Choose our humanity!” by embracing visionary understandings of all that we perceive and all that is beyond us; deep, altruistic intentions in all that we are about; gentle, truthful, compassionate interactions and relationships between us; respectful, helpful, healing actions; life-giving livelihoods; wholesome, vigorous effort; alert, empathetic mindfulness; and hope-based, needs-based, empowering concentration (see the Eightfold Path of Buddhism). Let’s be responsible and answer our call to be fully human, alive, and free! Let’s, as a human family, get in our zone, find healing, and be victorious together! Â
I am very interested in your thoughts about this. This may seem very theoretical but this is the first of a several posts that are heading toward something very practical. What do you think about humanity? Also what do you think about the call to love, the topic of our next post, or should I call it the love revolution? Please make comments here or send me your thoughts at denton2100@gmail.com. Thanks much!
November 19, 2011
· 
Leo Denton · 
3 Comments
Tags: Humanity · Posted in: Community, Positive Energy
3 Responses
In the first paragraph, in the list of humanity’s gifts, I’ve re-added “joining together in disaster preparation and recovery efforts” (in making a re-ordering edit before publishing I lost that important element of the list).
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Hi Leo,
it just happens to be Thanksgiving Day…so happy Thanksgiving !
but I have been struggling with what to do with a vision that is coming clearer and clearer into view…and this article you have written intersects with that vision (and even makes me think you might be seeing it too!).
First, here’s the vision. “In His Name.” its a jamboree/picnic in the park that ALL the municipal churches organize. It is a God event. A celebration on Sunday afternoon, once a year, where all the Christian church communities come together representing themselves with their music, their food, their faith, and their praise.
Second, it really derives from another vision. A Rosary…is held together by the humble unobtrusive string, with knots to! Cut the string and the beads fall off. A box of beads with no string is what we are now. We have no string to unite us and make us a pleasing offering to God. The string is what is lacking. The string that unites us. It is some sort of corporation. “The All Christian Churches United” corporation that works to run this event in the park…(for starters!- maybe more later)
Leo, I have found that differences in faith cannot be overcome by dialogue. However, common action unites. Something as simple and as general as being together in the park, each community retaining and celebrating its charism, to honor God. “In His Name.”
I am so poor that I have no resources…I am floundering in what I have already taken on. I was thinking of talking to a priest so that I have a “touch-base” to work with, maybe a Benedictine monk, rather than a parish priest, who might get transferred….
Need to set up a steering committee and get some stuff printed up…oh, it all becomes so much. But by keeping it municipal, at least it has one common element in place, and a limiting edge. I think if it could happen, with some nice media coverage, it might could spread all over the place….and stop the chastisement that God has just about all prepared for the USA. How about a Dauphin Island “In His Name” day !? 🙂
Best Wishes
Mike Miller
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Michael, a picnic in the park with music, food, and prayer sounds great! By the way, someone challenged me recently that even seemingly insurmountable obstacles can be overcome by doing things very simply (getting to the heart of things – focusing on our commonality rather than our differences) and by doing things person to person.
Best wishes too for you and all your family,
Leo
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