We live in a world where controversy sells. But most of us work in a business that aims to solve problems. And yet, many of us relax with entertainment designed around conflict. We watch sports, and we watch so-called reality television, and we watch news channels that hype every social and political conflict. We are being conditioned to crave controversy. Many social media apps are built on a model to increase clicks by prompting us to become voyeurs of interpersonal relationship strife.
Peace and harmony should sell, but like Pavlov’s dogs, we are being trained to seek out more and more controversy. At the core of our being, we are at peace and find happiness. Jesus’ sermon on the mount teaches ways to escape interpersonal conflict. Those who have mastered the art of escaping conflict find life refreshing. For example, when at sea and caught up in a hurricane, the only place to find peace one must dive deep.
Likewise, we must dive deep because the world is full of people agitating our thoughts for their popularity ratings. We must shut off the input and still our thoughts. We must breathe slowly and deliberately to steady our physical systems. If controversy is what they are selling, we must stop being consumers. Breaking the cycle will be like a drug addict going through withdrawals. But once we are free, life becomes refreshing. Our essential nature is peace and happiness, but if our awareness remains in the whirlwind, we will lose sight of what is true.
I was not always able to see the beauty in people that were not of my spiritual tribe. I did not physically assault them; I judged them to be broken, and I felt pity for them in my heart. I held to a set of beliefs that evaluated people’s behaviors. I believed that humankind had fallen and that everyone was separated from God, having no light or beauty on the inside.
EVidence LOCKER 