Emptiness...

In today's post I want to spend some time with an ancient spiritual practice that leads to health, wellness and wholeness (HW2). It is the practice of simplicity or of self-emptying. We live in a time of great consumerism, the acquisition of "stuff" goes on at an enormous rate. Consider the following statistics: since the mid-1970's the average house size in the U.S. has increased by 50% (from 1600 to 2400 square feet) while the size of the average family has decreased. The personal storage business in 2009 was more than a $20 billion (yes, BILLION) industry. Thus, even though we have 50% more space in our homes on average than our parents did, we now spend a huge amount of money to store all the extra stuff that we don't have room for in our larger homes! Consider also that we are literally eating ourselves to death as well. Overweight and obesity are of epidemic proportions in the U.S. We are increasing our body size exponentially as well.

In order to acquire all this extra stuff that we need to store in some off-site space, we work longer and have less leisure time. This leads to the existential angst that so many feel, and the downward spiral into more work, less free time, poorer and poorer HW2. We are also beset by the problems of our getting richer while the majority of the world's population are getting poorer. The median household income in Arlington, Virginia, in 2008 was > $101,000. The majority of the world's population exists on less than $800 a year. How do caring people reconcile these data? How do we turn away from the consumerism that dominates our "developed" world and get back to the equitable distribution of wealth and material goods - the latter meaning the process of ensuring easy access to clean water, safe housing, healthy food?

The path to that way of being is the way of self-emptying talked about by all the theologians. We can not "see" the other if we are focused on ourselves - nor can we help ourselves. Words from Chris Sligh's song, "Empty Me" help shed light on the path..."Empty me of the selfishness inside, Every vain ambition and the poison of my pride. And any foolish thing my heart holds to, Lord empty me of me, so I can be filled with you." Repentance - turning our back on the current path, requires that we recognize the current way is misguided. We have to recognize our selfishness, pride and ambition as the key elements that are barriers to our HW2. Removing said barriers is a long and difficult process, and one that we can not accomplish alone.

We accomplish self-emptying in community. Surrounded by like minded (or similarly focused) persons, we can begin the process of becoming empty so we can be filled with life giving Spirit. This is what Possibilities Journey, Inc., (www.possjrny.org) is focused on. Helping all people recognize the need to empty, and then helping them discover the path to being filled with abundant life.

Let us know how we can help you.

Peace,
Dan