How NOT to Fix a Broken World

Stuart died during the pandemic. And he was a good friend.   As  a young man in the sixties and seventies, he dove deep into himself, exploring and letting go of his smallness and awakened to the drum call of “We Are One.” It was the best of times, and the chance for an earth of peace and Love was palpable.   Stuart had many relationships, some more substantial than others. Four marriages and two children, one whom he nourished on fine wine, the other with dregs.

His understanding of the unity of all things led Stuart to train with Al Gore as a climate warrior. At home, on his farm, he demanded sustainability with draconian consequences for even the slightest waste or disregard for Mother Earth.   When not at home, he would travel to meet other climate warriors and commiserate on the inevitable end of Gaia.   The lectures he presented, all hellfire and brimstone,  spoke of the terrible consequences of human detritus on the well-being of our mother earth. He would bring the full force of his emotional being into his presentations with tears and anger at man’s stupidity. Stuart was sure that if he were angry enough and shook people hard enough, with his fury and emotional intensity, the world would change. He was indeed a warrior. His commitment and concern for humanity were significant; he suffered greatly.

Stuart died an awful death.  On one level, all death is terrible.  However, he managed to make his death terrible for all the people around him: His anger and frustration with his cancer, his lack of appreciation for the medical care he received, and his meanness and intolerance for those who tried to comfort and support him. It was ugly, dark, and lasted for many, many months.

What is the point of being a saint when you are out in the world and, upon your return, you are cruel, unloving, judgemental, and mean to the people closest to you?

What is the point of giving of yourself for this world when you perceive every interaction with someone as an opportunity to gain some advantage, whether emotional, physical, or financial?

Stuart did not fix our world; he broke it. The anger, judgments, and angst he dumped upon his loved ones and neighbors created ripples of darkness passed on through time. A stench of negativity passed from his children to theirs, from his neighbors to theirs.  A cycle of abuse dragging our near-terminal species closer to extinction.  This is Stuart’s legacy!

If you want to fix this broken world, then first fix yourself. There is NO justification to take out your frustrations on those closest to you. NONE. If your life is so hard that you demonize and torture those around you, get help.  Every moment you choose to be that better you, the entire world lightens.  You will find that at some point in your evolution, you will only be able to progress further when you put the wisdom you have gained into helping others.  Then, and ONLY then, is it time to dedicate your life to helping others.