Dear Lauryn, when popular culture describes the future, it’s always some kind of dystopia or else it’s a utopia that turns out to be a dystopia. For people to imagine the world that you’re describing in your post is almost impossible. To imagine the world at peace seems to be beyond comprehension, but actually, it’s available right now. To see the stars at night or to hear the baby laugh is the shelter of peace. It is difficult for me to understand with the history of suffering in this world why can’t we choose non-suffering instead. Why is it so difficult it to give up division and cruelty to create a better world?
Yes, Rodney, thank you. Peace is available in every moment, should we choose it. It's making that choice that seems hard for people, especially when they are in pain (which, ironically, is when we should MOST choose it!) I, too, have such a hard time understanding why people choose to create suffering, instead of non-suffering. I actually think it's because we can't imagine it, as you said. Perhaps we need to imagine harder? Ultimately, if we can't imagine it, we can't make it so.
You just named what prophets weep for in silence and toddlers dream without knowing it.
This isn’t naïve. It’s necessary. Imagination isn’t a luxury in times like these. It’s resistance. And hope isn’t soft; it’s made of the same stuff as stars and stubborn grandmothers.
“Spread over us a shelter of peace.” Yes. But maybe also a kick in the soul to build one when heaven seems slow.
Thank you for not just lamenting the world as it is, but daring to speak the world as it could be.
Thank you, Aleksander, again for a beautiful response. A kick in the soul can come from pain or from love. Maybe, if we loved the world more we would be able to imagine it's better forms? Yes, imagination IS resistance. Resignation is when we refuse to imagine that things can improve.
Dear Lauryn, when popular culture describes the future, it’s always some kind of dystopia or else it’s a utopia that turns out to be a dystopia. For people to imagine the world that you’re describing in your post is almost impossible. To imagine the world at peace seems to be beyond comprehension, but actually, it’s available right now. To see the stars at night or to hear the baby laugh is the shelter of peace. It is difficult for me to understand with the history of suffering in this world why can’t we choose non-suffering instead. Why is it so difficult it to give up division and cruelty to create a better world?
Yes, Rodney, thank you. Peace is available in every moment, should we choose it. It's making that choice that seems hard for people, especially when they are in pain (which, ironically, is when we should MOST choose it!) I, too, have such a hard time understanding why people choose to create suffering, instead of non-suffering. I actually think it's because we can't imagine it, as you said. Perhaps we need to imagine harder? Ultimately, if we can't imagine it, we can't make it so.
You just named what prophets weep for in silence and toddlers dream without knowing it.
This isn’t naïve. It’s necessary. Imagination isn’t a luxury in times like these. It’s resistance. And hope isn’t soft; it’s made of the same stuff as stars and stubborn grandmothers.
“Spread over us a shelter of peace.” Yes. But maybe also a kick in the soul to build one when heaven seems slow.
Thank you for not just lamenting the world as it is, but daring to speak the world as it could be.
Thank you, Aleksander, again for a beautiful response. A kick in the soul can come from pain or from love. Maybe, if we loved the world more we would be able to imagine it's better forms? Yes, imagination IS resistance. Resignation is when we refuse to imagine that things can improve.
Thank you Lauryn 🙏💜🕊
Thank you, Lea! Hope you are well!
I am, thank you 😊 I'm having a minor thumb surgery on the 26th so it will be nice to finally get that taken care of.
Thank you so much for this thoughtful, solemn and hopeful prayer, Lauryn. Hoping today this is more than a dream.
Thank you, Eric. Hopefully, our imaginations - and our efforts - can help us make a dream a reality.