Abundance

Do you see the rabbit?  It's in the new year calligraphy that was created to welcome the change of the lunar calendar that is coming - and it is an invitation.  That invitation is to reflect on the plus/minus of the meaning of the word "abundance.".  Mostly it is word that brings a feeling of expansive hope and sense of security, as it relates to the material, individual experience of life.  As in all things, its meaning depends on how we live.  

The news is all about the abundant rainfall that has come in the form of atmospheric rivers, flowing across the state of California.  Even the east coast media is reporting on what is happening in California.  The Golden State that offers sunshine most of the year, terrain that embraces micro-environments from deserts to beaches to snow-capped mountains, to redwoods - is under siege by Mother Nature and, in a strange way it feels like those across the continent are somewhat satisfied watching California in struggle.  Those stories of 80 degree Christmases while snowstorms created winter havoc on the east coast have come into balance with the recent weather crisis on the west coast.

Nothing, even the clear evidence of shifts in our natural conditions on earth, is getting through to human beings who seem unable to make changes in order to preserve the capacity to meet the future.  It's odd.  The pummeling by abundant rains, and its related destruction of roads, homes, and aging infrastructures clearly signals a need to re-orient from short-term, to long-term planning and response. Perhaps this is a skill that is simply not cultivated in our society - that is, to think long-term (as in 7 generations out).  To understand the impact of now on the future and to accept that 400 years is not much time in the context of human existence.  

And abundance is showing up in the societal debt load accruing.  It is revealed in how collective resources (tax dollars) are being taken away from infrastructure support, early education access, health care, programs for shelter/housing that is affordable to name a few things people need.  Abundant debt is showing up as ever-growing deficit in budgets, both state and federal, are requiring cuts to programs that just a year ago were attending to the reality that future generations will inherit.  

Abundant self-centeredness and greed has appeared to ruin political institutions meant to serve the people.  The short-term self-centered thinking has created institutional crises caught in the cross-hairs of managing budget demands and obligations with maintaining social and cultural shifts taking place in society (think the movement for Black Lives, Occupy, and Me too).  Will there ever be a point at which the shift from individualism will be made to recognize and prioritize what is good for the commons?  It would mean sacrifice, yielding, slowing down.

Strategists are those who love to create the options.  A, B, and C are options and the price to pay for each, both in material and non-material terms are made clear. Theirs is a pride of ownership in being able to identify each strategic choice to be considered.  But the actual decision to be made, the choice as to which strategy belongs to a true "leader", the one who is able to balance head and heart in a way that brings people, communities together so that hands can go to work.  The leaders are the ones who are responsible for making the final call, the difficult choices and they, unlike the strategist, care deeply about the impact on the commons. This quality cannot be trained into a person - it is a natural part of their character.  They are the ones who primarily carry the heart part of the "head-heart-hands" framework of living in society.  It is vital to have good strategists;  and in these times, it is absolutely critical to have good leaders.  

And among society - there are innumerable others who play important roles that support, surround, and sustain the ones who lead.  Each person's work/being/choice is like a drop of water that goes into a vessel that can eventually be filled so that the thirst of humanity can be quenched.

The new lunar year ushers in a new energy, one that is less aggressive and potentially more generous.  The opportunity for generosity here is not material, rather it is generosity in the form of listening more deeply, beyond what the ears can hear.  It is in resisting acquiring more, even if one can.  It is in allowing more spaciousness in life, not planning every moment so that exhaustion is the end result.  It is in sharing experiences with others so that the possibility of comfort, friendship, kinship can be fertilized and grow.  

How will people choose as the opportunities to make change present themselves? The only thing that each passing moment offers is change – it's a choiceless phenomenon, yet one can effect the outcome by a choice made. What might be the changes made, individually and collectively if one were to learn how to use truly skillful means to move through this moment in life?

Abundance lies ahead in the year of the rabbit.  I think about a comment that was made long ago, "I am not a poor artist;  please don't describe artists like that.  For me - I live a very abundant life.  I just don't have a lot of money.  My life is full, and I am rich with friends, creativity, travel, and many things that make an abundant life."   The invitation is open.