Whispering Wyrd

It’s sad that we’ve reached a point where even mentioning religion or beliefs can immediately raise defenses and trigger anger. That isn’t what this is about. This is about kindness, and about remembering our shared humanity.

I’ve been following the monks who are walking across the United States for peace. If I had to describe what they’re doing in one word, it would be inspiring. They’ve walked through rain and snow, stepped on broken glass and nails, dealt with illness and exhaustion, and they just keep going. Not for attention or argument, but for peace. There’s something deeply moving about that kind of dedication.

Recently, though, something happened that stirred up a lot of anger online. A pastor shared that when organizers asked if the monks could sleep on the church floor for a night, his first answer was no because their beliefs were so different. Later, after speaking with church elders, the answer became yes, and the monks were welcomed.

But what people seem to be focusing on is the initial refusal, and many online reactions have been full of anger and outrage. Watching all of this unfold made me pause, because the anger surrounding the situation feels like the opposite of what the monks are walking for.

And I understand where some of that anger might come from. Many people have painful experiences connected to religion or churches. I carried a lot of anger myself for many years, often without even knowing exactly why. Back then, anger just felt like my normal state.

Getting sober and coming off benzos forced me to face a lot of that. These days my head is clear, and I find I don’t want to live in anger anymore. Life feels too short and too precious. To me, this situation isn’t about one religion versus another. It’s about how we treat people who believe differently than we do.

If someone is hungry, feed them. If someone is cold or tired, help them. Kindness shouldn’t depend on politics, religion, nationality, or anything else.

What strikes me is that many spiritual traditions, including Christianity and Buddhism, share this same idea of compassion and hospitality. Different paths, same reminder… take care of one another.

So what am I really trying to say here?

Not to preach. Not to lecture. Just to say that I wish we could slow down and treat each other with a little more kindness. Cruelty and outrage seem to be everywhere lately, and it wears on all of us whether we realize it or not. And to those upset on behalf of the monks, maybe it’s okay to just breathe and step back a little. The monks themselves didn’t seem offended. Their walk is about peace, not confrontation.

Maybe the best thing any of us can do is try, in our own small ways, to practice goodwill where we are. We don’t all have to agree. But we can still remember we’re all human beings sharing the same road, this same Earth.

As someone I deeply respect once said, there is no way to peace, peace is the way.

Amituofo
 ~Buck