Last week, I dreamt that I was in a capsized boat. I kept trying to figure out how to right the boat or to find safety. But it was dark, and I was just stumbling through the boat, waste deep in water. Abruptly, I fell forward but caught hold of a handrail. My head was still above water, and as I caught my breath, I began to think how older folks, like me, with a few years left in their life, were needed to get the boat righted. I thought of young people too and all kinds of people working together to right the boat. Then I woke up.
Later that morning, I reflected on the dream and our world situation. I wrote:
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Our boat is capsized Our boat can be righted |
 The Seawise University (formerly RMS Queen Elizabeth) capsized in Victoria Harbour (Hong Kong). Photograph by Barry Loigman, M.D., July 1972. |
Some of the wisest words, ever spoken, were spoken by Mahatma Gandhi, “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” These words compliment Jesus’ perception: “How can you say to your neighbor, ‘Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? How fake, how bogus! First take out the log in your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck out in your neighbor’s eye.” To right our boat, each of us needs to start with our own self, not accusing anyone else of anything, but continuing to focus on our own improvement and the improvement of our own groups.
To right our boat, we must also work together! This requires that we practice respect, trust, forgiveness, and love for one another – whether the other be Agnostic, Atheist, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, or a believer in another religion. Let us open our eyes, not so much to what the propaganda machines or the accusing Satans want us to see, that’s focusing on all the specks in our neighbor’s eyes, but focus on “whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, gracious, … excellent, … worthy of praise …” (Philippians 4:8). In this way, we can grow together in peace, righting our boat with joined hands, step by step, benefitting from each other’s perspectives. In this, we are ultimately trusting in God, who has placed all these extraordinary people and perspectives here for us and for our benefit. Trust! For “whoever trusts in God, God will suffice!” (Qu’ran 65:3). As we look forward in trust, we need also to forgive the many transgressions of humanity. As the Jewish book of Proverbs teaches, “Love flourishes whenever an offense is forgiven” (Proverbs 17:9). Finally, it’s each of our answers to the call of love that matters. This is beautifully expressed in Shantideva’s prayer:
May I be a guard for those who need protection
A guide for those on the path
A boat, a raft, a bridge for those who wish to cross the flood
May I be a lamp in the darkness
A resting place for the weary
A healing medicine for all who are sick
A vase of plenty, a tree of miracles
And for the boundless multitudes of living beings
May I bring sustenance and awakening
Enduring like the earth and sky
Until all beings are freed from sorrow
And all are awakened.
In doing this, we will see Christians standing for Muslims, Muslims standing for Buddhists, Buddhists standing for Jews, Jews standing for Hindus … Africans standing for Australians, Australians standing for Pacific Islanders … and in this solidarity we will discover and win “liberty and justice for all!”
May each of us work to right our boat: being the change we seek in the world, focusing on bettering ourselves, working together, patiently trusting each other, generously forgiving, and loving all, just as God loves each of us.
Finally, be assured, that each of our parts in this is far greater than we can imagine. Even our seemingly “small” positive actions are having extensive effects beyond what we see. Each of us is part of a much bigger picture, that is beyond our comprehension, and that is creating a new and better future for us all. But we need to work well together now to right our boat.