Face the Sun…

“Turn your face to the sun and the shadows will fall behind you.”
― Maori proverb

The message above calling us to “turn your face to the sun” feels just right, as many of us are shocked by the hatred spewing right now.

Horrified by the tragedy of the hate-driven shootings in Buffalo and Laguna Woods, I found this gentle invitation to let the life-giving energy of the sun or the Divine renew me, so I could be ready for what is mine to do.

Each of us must follow our own inner guidance or call from the Holy One regarding what is ours to do. And perhaps the first step is to feel what we feel, practicing loving self-kindness.

Modern day mystic Eckhart Tolle reminds us that peace (and strength to act for healing) can not be found by forcing ourselves there:

“Don’t look for peace. Don’t look for any other state than the one you are in now; otherwise, you will set up inner conflict and unconscious resistance. Forgive yourself for not being at peace. The moment you completely accept your non-peace, your non-peace becomes transmuted into peace. Anything you accept fully will get you there, will take you into peace. This is the miracle of surrender.”

― Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now (emphasis added)

However you are feeling about the state of the world and the challenges in your life, perhaps the right next steps are to 1) turn your gaze towards “the sun”; and, 2) fully accept how you’re feeling.

May you find the strength to turn your gaze to the sun and feel what needs to be felt. And then may you awaken to the powerful gift you’ve given to others by practicing this self-care.

Why Hate Lingers