Connected In The Heart

I had gone too long past lunch and urgently needed an energy boost. I was delighted to spot an authentic Mexican takeout and was eagerly awaiting my Carnitas burrito. Another customer, a Hispanic American,  was also waiting and we turned our attention to the TV near the counter.

We stood, side by side and watched the heartbreaking scenes of the devastation and suffering in Haiti being broadcast on the Spanish-language television news. I know very little Spanish and she, apparently understood not much English. We silently watched scenes of people suffering in ways we could barely imagine.

Suddenly we turned and looked at each other with moist eyes and shared an instant connection. Our mutual compassion transcending language. That is the nature of the Authentic Self and the Authentic Heart.

Then the image of Reverend Pat Robertson filled the screen. Earlier I had heard his dispassionate “It may be a blessing in disguise…..” comment about the disaster, blaming the Haitians for their circumstance. A part of me, my ego, wants to judge him and attack his words and actions. I think with his great influence, he also has a great responsibility to be a voice for compassion and unity and not for condemnation and separation.

But the voice of my Authentic Heart urges me to be tolerant. I recognize that in his mind the Reverend believes he is right and just and bravely doing the work of a punitive and vengeful God.  I think that is his ego speaking and not his authentic heart. I don’t condone or endorse his thoughts and words and I am saddened, but I do respect his right to his own choices.

When we are in our ego-mind we react in fear, and attack what seems to be a threat to us including those who are different. That is why we have wars all over the globe and a lack of peace within and without. But when we choose the voice of our Authentic Heart we exist in love, and compassion flows from us.

Right now millions of people are compassionately supporting the Haitian people. Many who have radically different beliefs will choose to work side by side to ease their suffering. Great tragedies have the effect of triggering our authentic capacity for love and compassion and we temporarily experience our unity in one great Authentic Heart.

This great disaster is another reminder to me that living our authentic self is a choice we have the opportunity to make hundreds of times a day.

With humility and gratitude, from my Authentic Heart to yours.

Joseph