Yesterday morning I welcomed the first sunrise of the New Year.
Looking out over the Eastern sea, it became clear to me that Nature did not care that most of the modern world was starting a New Year! Then I heard a little voice inside my head,
“My cycles are continual. Man’s mind does not yet understand this,
so he sees things as having a beginning and end.”
At this moment I thought of Shakespeare, and how Nature was reminding me that the world continues to be a stage, and that man continues to act out his timeless human drama. This drama is the age old story where man either succumbs to power, greed, fear and blame or chooses the virtuous life, which leads him back to the magnificent glory of
Love, Beauty, Dignity and Respect for Life.
History also indicates that each generation has its own version of this perpetual narrative. Set to the backdrop of various forms of famine, war, diseases, pandemics, love, family, power, poverty, politics, greed, education and “isms”, it seems that we both individually and collectively, cannot escape living out some version of this same story.
And, looking back at 2021, I am reminded that this drama continues today.
And so in keeping with Gandhi’s idea of
“live the change that you want to see in the world,”
I am making 2022 my personal “Year of Virtues.”
A year when “truth, kindliness, austerity, purity, forbearance, compassion, contentment, detachment, and dedication to the Supreme Lord” will run rampant on the pages of my mind and heart. A year when I will reflect on and recite Plato’s 12 Virtues, the Virtues of the Bible, the Virtues of Mohammed, the Virtues of Buddhism and the Virtues of Hinduism and realize that all of this ancient wisdom continues to hold the keys to a future of
Peace, Love and Happiness.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!