The phrases, “As above, so below” and “As within, so without” which have been attributed to the principles of Hermeticism, suggest a connection between the physical and metaphysical realities and that what we see externally is a reflection of all that is going on within us. This concept is echoed in the notion that “We give to others that which we want to receive”. Most of you will agree that, in giving, we also receive, supporting the proposition that, on some level, there really is no separation between us and our environment, or all of humanity for that matter. When we improve the life of one, we improve the lives of all in some small, but measurable way.
In these turbulent times, I find it helpful to focus on areas where I can have a positive impact, however small. In the grand scheme, every small, positive act, helps to make a better world. Politics and the ever-present media coverage of events can be triggering, and sometimes might even cause low-level trauma, when the events covered are tragic, with images that cannot be unseen. When this happens, it is natural to want to go to an urgent mode of problem-solving, at least in our imaginations: “What is the problem, who/what is to blame, and what can be done?!?!” In our haste, it is easy to fall into a trap of seeing ourselves as separate from others, which can lead to blaming, which is not productive, instead of taking personal responsibility (our fair share of it). In our own small way, we each can “take on the sins of the world” by doing something good to counter what is not so good, to treat others the way we would like to be treated, and live by the Golden Rule. When it seems like all of us are divided, it is the perfect time to envision us as connected, to find causes that unite us, and to come together to work for the common good, something for which Rotary has been known for generations.