I have found that the practice of meditation requires a sense of serenity – a surroundings or environment in which the senses can sit still.
The words that we hear when we are silent can be internal or external – the internal ones are suspect – possibly trappings of what we want to hear – but the words that are carried on the wind – now those are the ones that we need to listen to with exquisite keenness.
A few miles north of Lismore, in Nth NSW, Australia – is a little knoll with a country shop, a butcher shop and a quick left hand turn that goes up a steep side road to an ‘outdoor chapel’ – a non denominational chapel overlooking a wide expanse of valley – rimmed with Banksias and Grevilleas.
Katy and I stop and allow ourselves to breathe deeply, relax and listen.
We listen to nature on the wind and we hear the elders talking.
Today they are asking questions of each other – “where did we go wrong – how could we have bequeathed such a state of affairs to our children?”
The elders are ashamed – not for their actions – but for their lack of action.
They were led to believe in their geo-political leaders – they were taught that if it was in the newspaper it was gospel – if you heard it on TV it was saintly and if a politician proclaimed its purpose then indeed the gods had spoken.
And so they, the elders, paused in their critique and they stopped railing against government regulation.
They accepted the status quo as being for their own good, believed that social welfare was their right, allowed their children to stay out until 4 in the morning, let their belts out and ordered in.
Ideals, enthusiasm and outspoken comment were replaced with spin while the sky rains bombs all over the world.
And so on the anniversary of one of the greatest gatherings of elders ever seen – where hundreds of thousands of elders came together for a festival of peace – I wish you continued success in teaching your children well.
And just as Katy and I turn to resume our journey – the wind is swept toward us – buffeted by an old volcanic rim in the distance and an echo is carried within – an echo from OUR Elders – a whispering of… lead by example – be the best you that you can be – be motivated by values and love one another.
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