All around us there’s news that seems to remind us that the world is going to hell in a handbasket – murder, rapes, innocent children being brutalized, animals being sodomized, racial and religious intolerance, large scale corruption… Sometimes the problem is that we get too much information about these evils. We too are culpable of passing this information on either by sharing or commenting or adding our two-pennies worth. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not suggesting that we all keep whistling in the dark pretending that all is well. The truth is that it is NOT. But how do we respond to the state of affairs in our world? Today I read a beautiful piece of writing that seems to show us a way forward. The lines that stood out for me were “stand up and show your soul”. For me, it’s another reminder to be authentic and to dare greatly.
Let me share the piece with you today.
Stand Up And Show Your Soul
Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once, but of stretching out to mend the part of the world that is within our reach. Any small, calm thing that one soul can do to help another soul, to assist some portion of this poor suffering world, will help immensely. It is not given to us to know which acts or by whom, will cause the critical mass to tip toward an enduring good. What is needed for dramatic change is an accumulation of acts, adding, adding to, adding more, continuing. We know that it does not take “everyone on Earth” to bring justice and peace, but only a small, determined group who will not give up during the first, second, or hundredth gale.
One of the most calming and powerful actions you can do to intervene in a stormy world is to stand up and show your soul. Soul on deck shines like gold in dark times. The light of the soul throws sparks, can send up flares, builds signal fires, causes proper matters to catch fire. To display the lantern of soul in shadowy times like these – to be fierce and to show mercy toward others, both, are acts of immense bravery and greatest necessity. Struggling souls catch light from other souls who are fully lit and willing to show it. If you would help to calm the tumult, this is one of the strongest things you can do.
There will always be times when you feel discouraged. I too have felt despair many times in my life, but I do not keep a chair for it; I will not entertain it. It is not allowed to eat from my plate. The reason is this: In my uttermost bones I know something, as do you. It is that there can be no despair when you remember why you came to Earth, who you serve, and who sent you here. The good words we say and the good deeds we do are not ours: They are the words and deeds of the One who brought us here. In that spirit, I hope you will write this on your wall: When a great ship is in harbor and moored, it is safe, there can be no doubt. But that is not what great ships are built for.
This comes with much love and prayer that you remember who you came from, and why you came to this beautiful, needful Earth,
– Clarissa Pinkola Estes
Let us together vow to stand up and show our soul and not be afraid to shine our light in this world.
One of the most calming and powerful actions you can do to intervene in a stormy world is to stand up and show your soul.Click To Tweet
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Tweeted and shared. I love this post!
Late to the party today, but glad to be here!
I will try my best to make this world a better place. A much-needed post. Just a few days back I read about a shelter home engaging in human trafficking, today I read about a 24-year girl carrying her dad’s dead body on her shoulders. such news is extremely disturbing. Thanks to your post, Corinne, I feel hopeful and know what to do when faced with such emotions.
News affects me quite deeply these days. So, I avoid it as much as I can. There was a time when I used to voice my disappointment or I used to talk about current issues but I have stopped. Because of the venom that people spill after every headline. Nobody takes any corrective measure but they spill venom and then they come after you, poke you and blame you for things they imagine you support or don’t. You know, I don’t have the strength to put up with that anymore. I try to do what I can in my capacity other than that I try to stay away from all the negativity. I’m just tired of all the nonsense that goes around in the country and the world. And I’m more tired with the nonsense on social media as a result of that.
Oh I love Clarissa Pinkola Estes!! Her wisdom and her fierce grace are a model for these tumultuous times. To speak up against injustice…to send our love and light out into the world…to be a safe harbour for those in need…she models it so well.
This makes it a heartwarming read. It makes complete sense to me. I often think of myself not being helpful to people because of my constraints to go out there physically. I may not be capable of helping people financially. Yet, I know the one thing I have is my thoughts and words with which I can do good to the people around me. Years ago, when I was broken and struggling, there were authentic souls like you and a few others who told their authentic stories through their blogs (though there was no connection with them on a personal level), who helped me in healing with their words and thoughts. And, this is what I intend to carry on doing with others.
This might be one of my most favourite posts ever. Nil desperandum – Never despair is one of my favourite mantras.
Corinne, you are touching lives with your writing and true the soul that has been hiding and suppressed for too long needs to come out. I am making progress with this soul that gotta shine and stand out.