Gentle Dog Day Worries

Maybe it’s just personal things—my writing, or my brother’s illness—but there’s something else bothering me:

The nature of public dialogue among us spiritual progressives. 

I’m worried about our focus on morality and blame.   I was grateful for Rev. Carlton’s sermon “Gently” because that’s not what I’m hearing much anywhere else. 

I’m not happy about all the media folks piling blame on Obama for not being angry and domineering enough to force his views onto Congress.  I don't favor diatribes about corporate greed, either—rage doesn't actually help us think clearly.  I'm trying to figure out what will actually help the situation.

What bothers me about us liberals is that we haven’t “taken our own inventories” first, before blaming others.   We haven’t questioned how we live our values, or if those beliefs are right for the world today.  Our response to public conflict is basically "do more, try harder, be more forceful, and get angrier." I think we need some deeper reflection.   

“Inventory-taking” is the 4^th step in Alcoholics Anonymous, where we “made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.”  It is followed by the 5^th step, “admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.”

OK.  What wrongs should I admit?  Here’s a minimalist starter list: 

•  I’m selfish about wanting air conditioning, and heat in winter.  I don’t want to suffer too much, or die too soon, even if that increases global warming. 

•  I’m greedy about holding onto my $130,000 in savings from an IRA and home equity, to cover my expenses in old age (including a death that I hope will be comfortable).  I’m not willing to share that money—unless everybody else is willing to share their retirement savings.

•  I get angry when I have to compromise “too much” with the people in my life, but I try to hide that anger when I can’t persuade them to see things “my way” and I still need their cooperation; I have a big need to be nice.