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The Sufis say, “Be in the world,
but not of it.” For those of us growing older, some degree of
detachment is necessary and even desirable. But that is not the same as
ignoring the wider world. The political turmoil in America since the recent
election makes many of us sad, but it’s possible to find a spiritual path,
whether young or old:
“Even
our most respected spiritual leaders know that accepting not only the way
things are but our own limitations can be easier said than done.
Spiritual advancement does not ensure that we won’t feel sad sometimes,
that we won’t become frustrated. But after we’ve had a good cry, we can
simply get on with
it.
When the
world spins out of control, of course you should do what you can to rectify
your part in things. This includes being honest about your
limitations and forgiving yourself and life for being what it is and is
not.
You
don’t have to feel happy about this, but there’s a difference between
feeling bad—and feeling bad about yourself.”
From Spiritual Aging: Weekly Reflections for Embracing
Life, by Carol Orsborn (Park Street Press, 2024). For more on this book,
see: https://tinyurl.com/2u7kttmn
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