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We continue our series of posts with questions and answers. In this eleventh post, we hear a question on the theme of spiritual leaders being killed.
- Jesus, Martin Luther King and Gandhi were all killed and I know that you were exiled from Vietnam. Why do bad things happen to spiritual people?
The session takes place on August 16, 2007 during the Stonehill College retreat during the U.S. Tour. The retreat theme is Mindfulness, Fearlessness, and Togetherness.
To receive a judgement with a gesture of taking a distance and put an end to communication, is very painful when it’s coming from someone I didn’t expect to act in that way.
It teaches me how my expectations are formed and how personal it becomes, touching me deeply, even when my rational mind tells me that I shouldn’t. Apparently, emotional reactions leading to a distance between people aren’t always in sync with the kind of relationship, when the reaction is impulsive, coming from hotheadedness.
I’ve seen it happen often, in the Calvinistic Church Institute, growing up as the oldest daughter of my father, who was minister in that church in Holland. The family at large fell apart twice, 2 times, in the 20th century and many aunts, uncles and nieces or nephews disappeared in the background. The crevice was filled with judgement and rigid views.
In a darkly humorous way, God was chosen to be the judge in a court case that was only a pandemonium, created by shortsighted Calvinists. Hot heads and cold hearts.
We really can be remarkably stubborn creatures. And without sounding too negative, isn’t it astounding we are still harming the very people who for whatever reason have developed the understanding and ultimately the love we all desire to save us.
I found an amazing little quote that stated;
“The Pain We Carry Is The Love we Withheld.”
So True.
As soon as we choose love over our misunderstandings, over our fear, our hatred.. we are the first to benifit.
Don’t wait too long.
Blessed ~