Here I am with some sweet flowers. We are still in Kauai, paradise land. All night long and through the day the jungle leaves have been flapping with rain. The air is heavy and moist and smells like earth. Again roosters and dogs awakening us at 5:45am, so the days feel long.
The rain gave me an opportunity to finish my second novel since arriving here -- actually the second novel I have probably read in years! I had forgotten how much I love novels, having been so wrapped up in self-development books lately. Anyways, the book I finished today shook my world. Like my years studying anthropology, it shook away my naiveté.
It was called "The Shark Dialogs" by Davenport. This beautiful land of Hawaii which to a visitor can be so enthralling, so romantic, so captivating has such a turbulent political and cultural history! "Paradise" has been anything but for the native Hawaiians, decimated from one million to 60 thousand in number upon their initial contact with the West. Since then, the native lands has been taken by force and annexed, global labor imported as indentured servants have been squished into slave like work and over the years have come to dominate the service sector of labor while rich (primarily white) off-islanders have capitalized in every way possible. Now stifling mega resorts are on sacred lands, pollution and monopoly agriculture companies rule. There is an economy of innocence here -- where the illusion of Eden is bought and sold every day at resorts, in tourist gifts and tee shirts. Meanwhile, there is a vast complexity to "Paradise". Scratch below the surface and you get lost in confusion of a historically complex situation which, by our very being here, we enable. Anyways, I am on a stint of reading as many books as I can about Hawaii, so if anyone has any recommendations, I would love to know! I figure that I should learn all I can about the reality of life here if Kramer and I are seriously considering spending more time here. They don't all have to be this heavy though! I wish life was all flowers...
It's a tough situation. All over the world industrialization has created situations so complex that right and wrong are no longer clear-cut. I felt the same confusion exploring my own heritage when I went to Africa. I went to Senegal to connect with my father's African roots, with good intentions and lots of love in my heart for ancestors I never knew. When I lived there for 3 months, however, I encountered judgment, racism and resentment. Even though I may consider myself "non-white" because of my Caribbean heritage, all our African hosts saw was a moneyed white girl of privilege. My Irish and Scottish ancestry feels equally inaccessible to me. So the result is me-- a mixed mutt of the modern world with a bit of everything but not enough of one thing to feel at home anywhere. Where to connect? This is where modernity is going... the global human. Meanwhile there is so much anger out there in the world for wrongs. Apathy by those of us who have never had to fight for basic rights and are wrapped up in our little realities. Feeling angry and guilty over the past can't change it for me though. Being positive and openhearted can. Even if it is a luxury, I admit, I feel I can only change this world by changing myself and my response to it.
In a sermon lately, Michael Beckwith of Agape suggested, as in the book "Alice in Wonderland", we must imagine 6 impossible things before breakfast every day. What a simple but profound practice. Focus on the positive. Focus on the impossibly positive! So this prayer below is part of my six impossible things before breakfast for today, since peace has been on my mind.
Prayer for Peace
Glorious vibrant Universe which connects us all, I see an era of Peace and Wellbeing coming to all humanity! I see people laying down their differences and prioritizing justice, generosity and life. I believe it is possible to bring about change through a strong positive vision. We are experiencing radical and all encompassing serenity in this lifetime! I see forgiveness becoming commonplace and easy. I see each person making little changes to become more loving, which in turn creates a more loving planet. I see us connecting with long lost family members and welcoming new beginnings. I see all people receiving enough of what is needed. I see people of all nations coming together and setting precedents for worldwide healing and health. People of different ethnic and religious beliefs are bridging the gaps to become one family united by joy. Worldwide, people are waking up and respecting the Earth in new ways. Laws are being passed to preserve the environment and human rights and those in power are making choices which contribute to the planet's vitality and wholeness. A shift is happening in the minds and imaginations of millions of people who are taking time to imagine a peaceful future every day! I see billions of people actually beginning to believe worldwide peace is possible and helping to make it happen. I see values evolving to valorize collaboration, peace and unity. In a new era of awareness and harmony. I see a new global culture evolving to prioritize creativity, art and the sciences.Thank you! I feel so alive and inspired to be a part of this rapid and healthy change!