“What’s weighing US Down”

We Americans are a well-meaning people. We give to others in many ways -- helping our neighbors, volunteering in our communities, sending our money to charities.

However, something has been happening with us increasingly over the years. You might call it “thingness,” “possession-itis” or, as comedian George Carlin put it, “we gotta have more and more stuff.” Our garages, closets, pockets and purses are full of things we “must” have. We have so much stuff that a whole industry has grown up around the fact that we no longer have enough room to store it at home and now need legions of storage spaces to store it.

This conscious and subconscious collecting has even affected us physically as we pack our bodies with pound after pound until we become an increasingly obese nation. And, no matter where we go, where we turn, ads for stuff bombard us: electronics, food, toys for our children, cars, extra homes. It’s on the television, the internet, billboards -- all around us. All these ads are doing one thing: telling us we must have it -- whatever the “it” is, it’s different, better, more.

Now, we’re in a recession/depression and many of us may be experiencing a downturn in our personal economies. Oh, we still have all our “stuff” but we may not any longer be able to afford those storage lockers. Some may not even have a garage or a closet when this is all over.

There is a spiritual law which says that new energies cannot come into a space that is loaded up with old “stuffness.” New ideas, new ways of being, new health, new jobs, monies, cannot get to you when your physical, emotional and mental space is filled to the brim with possessions or ways of being. We can see this holding onto the old ways and things in ourselves, our communities, our country.

Most of us know that we need something to change. What we might not yet see is that change can, and should, begin with each individual. And, we can change things nationally by making changes in ourselves -- even little ones. Change begins when we do. We might want to do great things but don’t know how. But we can start small. We can start by getting rid of all that excess stuff -- by opening up our selves, our lives, and making space for what is to come. All those things we thought we needed, wanted, had to have, are unused and gathering dust. We obviously don’t need these things. We may have even forgotten that we have half of it -- no matter how much we paid for it, or who left it to us in their will, or what we did to get it. It’s stifling us.

Let’s just get rid of it. Give it away. Sell it on E-Bay. Have a garage sale. We’ll truly feel better -- lighter, more open and optimistic -- no matter how scary it might feel at first or how naked we feel without all our “stuff.” We never know what wonderful event, person or thing might be just around the corner if only we make room for it in our lives. Of course, we might also make a bit of money. And, in this economy, wouldn’t that be nice.

SPIRIT OF THE CENTRAL COAST (#1)

Hope for the Light in the Midst of the Darkness of Uncertainty:

It this time of year, most of the world’s religions and spiritualities have celebrations connected with the Winter Solstice -- the shortest day and longest night of the Northern Hemispheric year. Be it Hanukkah, Christmas, Diwali (the Indian festival of light), Wiccan rebirthing ceremonies, etc., these celebrations all connote the coming of the light into the darkness all around us.

Of course, many spiritual teachers over the centuries have taught that darkness is as necessary as the light for human spiritual development and have pointed out that all light would be as difficult to take as all darkness. However, we humans crave the light as winter and the darkness descends. This year especially, we are looking for light. The growing economic and political problems, like the growing winter darkness, can no longer be ignored. Many are afraid, just as ancient humans were afraid, that the light will not come this time.

Being human, though, we must have hope. We haven’t the patience of our four-legged and winged friends to accept and live with what is given to them. We humans must look for the light. We must do something to hurry it along. We may build a cozy fire, light candles, decorate our homes -- all to show our faith in and hope for the future of this world and human kind.

This year especially, many of us have additional reason to hope that a new day is about to dawn. That this new year will be brighter and more filled with joy and opportunity than the old one. For many, just the idea of November’s historic election and the possibilities of the new American administration are enough to give hope. Pollsters tell us that many who did not vote for President-elect Obama are hopeful that he can do some important good for the nation and the world. So, even in the midst of severe job loss, stores and companies going out of business, homes empty and foreclosed upon, longer and longer lines at food kitchens all around us, we want to hope and plan for the new day.

It was said of former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt that “she would rather light one candle than curse the darkness.” She would rather take even a small positive step than be overcome by the tragedy around her. Let us emulate Mrs. Roosevelt. Let us understand that the darkness is part of life -- necessary for rebirth and new understanding. And then, let each light our candle of hope and service and hold it up high so that all might be warmed. Together, perhaps, as one world, our candles can join together to form that new day of which we all dream.