REV. BOB SEYMOUR, a local minister, feels almost overwhelmed by the state of the world. And if a person of his spiritual stature feels this way, then it follows that many others are completely overwhelmed. Depressed and distraught might be a better description. Rev. Seymour mentioned the following concerns, among others: climate change, recession, violence in Iraq, the side-effects of our prescription drugs and our criminal justice system. We can add a litany of woe to his list. 75 San Diego State University students were arrested in a major drug bust causing 6 fraternities to be suspended. And, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of break-ins to our homes lately.

Yes, this is the world we live in. It is the real world. The question is, how do we deal with it? Here are a few suggestions.

1. We can stop moaning about it. It is good to talk about the problems both for historical reasons and to help us see our mistakes. But there is no need to dwell on the dark parts of our world. There is plenty of darkness, thank you, and there is no need to give power to this darkness by constant repetition of all the misfortunes that we experience.
    
2. We can be of help to others. Each of us has the ability to help others, and each of us has a special ability that can help another person. Just a smile, a kind word, can be of great benefit to another person. Particularly to members of our family.
    
3. Let's not be so overcome by the violence of the world that we fail to notice the beauty and kindness that exist in the world. We can appreciate the goodness of others. Will Rogers said, "I've never met a man I did not like!"
    
   In the mornings the birds sing with brave cheerfulness. Flowers are blooming. Trees are sending forth their leaves. Spring rains have cleansed and blessed the land. Our streams and creeks are happily flowing along.
    
   Do birds worry about the mistakes our government is making? Behold the hummingbirds! They are a symbol of joy!
    
   We can learn from nature. And the closer we get to nature, the more we can touch the workings of the true world. This is the true world that existed before humans came upon the earth. Nature has a wisdom that people know not.
    
4. Newspapers have reported that Josef Fritzl, of Austria, has imprisoned his daughter in a sound-proofed basement for 24 years - and that he has fathered his daughter's seven children. All this was done with such secrecy that neither the neighbors nor his family knew about it. Intense criticism has been heaped on his wife, his family, the neighbors, on the local police and town government; and even on Austria itself. This criticism is not fair. Fritzl planned this for years. He was a very meticulous planner, and skillfully constructed the underground prison. He thought of everything. Josef Fritzl is the one that perpetrated this terrible thing; he is the cause. The others should have our compassion and understanding.
    
   Lets put our own lives in order before we criticize others. Let's put our attention into the task of looking squarely at ourselves - and the Olympian goal of furthering our own awakening.
    
5. We can examine our language. Delete the harsh, condemning, demanding or critical words. Delete cursing and demeaning words. Words have power: power for good or evil. Believe it.
    
6. We can get away from the TV.
    
7. We can exercise every day.
    
8. We can spend time in quietness. Many of us do not have much time for this. Yet if we take brief moments of quietness and thankfulness, it is a great help. For instance, we can pause as we get up in the morning and have a moment of quiet thankfulness. We can do the same before we eat, before we go to meetings, and before we go to bed.

Perhaps you are thinking that I have not dealt with the original question, which is "How do we deal with the cruelty and violence of the world?" You may feel the suggestions written above are ineffective, and we need more practical answers. Well, here are some practical answers: It is recommended that we have better security for our homes. Police ask for more police. Teachers ask for more space, more money and smaller classes. Prison officials ask for more prisons. Many say we need more education - and so forth.

Yet my feeling is that the decline of civilization is the result of our losing contact with our spiritual selves. Einstein said you cannot solve a problem by using the same logic that created the problem.

To quote the Kabala, "As above, so below." As we improve ourselves, so the world will improve.

There are three things we can do while we are on the earth. We can help others, live in kindness and awaken fully. When we do these things we are free.

© Stanley Peele, 2008

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Stanley Peele has been a judge for more than 38 years; and is presently an emergency judge. He is a mediator, counselor, newspaper columnist, writer, and visits people in the hospital and nursing homes. He has been married to his wife, Carolyn, for 48 years.

Stanley has also done spiritual counseling and healing work for 40 years, and wrote the book, "A Simple Guide To Spiritual Healing." In addition, Stanley has worked as a crisis counselor, helped found the Family Service Agency of Chapel, Janus House, Oasis, plus a Parenting After Divorce program, and a Big Brother-Big Sister program in Chatham County, NC. In 1977, Stanley helped start a Teen Court program, which failed. He also helped start, and still participates as a judge in the present Teen Court program - a program where the attorneys, defendant, jury, bailiff and clerk are all teens.

Stanley’s mission is to help people discover their soul's purpose. Other than that, he says, he really hasn't done much. But we at PLW beg to differ!