If you feel pain, you are alive. If you feel other people’s pain, you are a human being. (Leo Tolstoy)
Emotions. Tricky. And universal. I had an experience lately where I was attacked on public media for disappointing the cause. Anger exploded. I pretended to process the experience prematurely. Something like jumping from an airplane without training. My reply was sweet but vastly inadequate. After all, the cause was against violence.
Fortunately, an understanding friend intervened. Privately. Why begin a war over a misunderstanding?
No. I am not relaying details. No point to it. I prefer to focus on what I decided. The beauty of listening, recognizing the heart of the other. In my own life. It is not possible during a shouting match. Sometimes genuine evil is formidable enough.
I think about how difficult it is to live personal life inside the polar political realm. To look deeper at who gains and who loses. To look from the inside of those most likely to be hurt.
Peace. Eventually.
terrypetersen 