“What keeps us from opening to the reality of the world? Could it be that we cannot accept our powerlessness and are only willing to see those wounds that we can heal?
Could it be that we do not want to give up our illusion that we are masters over our world and, therefore, create our own Disneyland where we can make ourselves believe that all events of life are safely under control?
Could it be that our blindness and deafness are signs of our own resistance to acknowledging that we are not the Lord of the Universe?
It is hard to allow these questions to go beyond the level of rhetoric and to really sense in our innermost self how much we resent our powerlessness . . . .
The astonishing thing is that the battle for survival has become so “normal” that few people really believe that it can be different . . . .
Oh, how important is discipline, community, prayer, silence, caring presence, simple listening, adoration, and deep, lasting faithful friendship. We all want it so much, and still the powers suggesting that all of that is fantasy are enormous.
But we have to replace the battle for power with the battle to create space for the spirit.“
For more see henrinouwen.org/meditation/
Life Matters 
Someone once said, “So often, we spend our air time either over-rating or debasing ourselves, not only as individuals, but as a species. We have developed a collective inferiority/superiority complex. We tell ourselves we are the masters of creation because we’re afraid that we are powerless. We tell ourselves that we are a cancer on the planet, because we do not know our true power.” I very much appreciate, “we have to replace the battle for power with the battle to create space for the spirit,” but I wonder if to frame the latter as “battle” is perhaps contrary to the point. 💖
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Thank you, Camilla – Totally agree with your comments on the use of the word “battle.” You’ve reminded me of George Carlin’s quotes on “war.” See this link for some examples: http://www.azquotes.com/author/2470-George_Carlin/tag/war
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Very nice! “The only metaphor,” I agree with Carlin 100%. We’ve convinced ourselves that nothing of value comes without struggle, without a “fight.” Yet we are continuously animated by the spirit we “struggle” to connect with. To connect our physical selves with the animating Self (the individuated ego with the transcendent Oneness) is the most natural thing of all, and action that succeeds at this will feel natural — effortless. If it feels like a battle, it’s probably not working. Ask the dogs. They have all the answers. 😉
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