I have benefited from living with multiple faith systems. From Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, and Christianity to Parsis, Sikhs, and others, each has wonderful truths and cultural teachings that continue to influence and clarify my view of Divinity and individuals I meet who form God’s family.
As I struggle with several conundrums, I find that it easy to fall into the blame game. Someone, something, is responsible for the “bad thing” in my life. If all else fails, I naturally blame God! I push past the line an intense lament to a space where I place the responsibility for what is unfolding squarely on another. I give life to the old writer’s blame game; “You made lover and neighbor alike dump me; the only friend I have left is Darkness.” (Psalm 88.18)
Without trying to minimize or explain away pain, uncertainty, or anguish in your life or mine, the gifts of Parsis, Buddhism, and Sikhs remind me of the following.
Laments deep within one’s heart and soul are healing and restorative. Like great blues songs, one discovers hope and comfort from the depths of heart wrenching cries. Without commenting of the true source of pain, assigning responsibility is a distraction to the question at hand – what will one do with the opportunity one has now? Little good follows one’s attempts to assign blame or accountability.
Evil can touch one from any direction. While there seems to be an endless number of wells that lend support to blindness, crippling forces, and a sense of abandonment, all wells are ultimately fed by the same source. We live in a battle of Good versus Evil, Pain versus Beauty, and Despair versus Hope. In any moment, we can be Evil’s target. Evil does not discriminate between innocent and deserving, vulnerable and strong.
When we act in the belief of compassion, caring and community, we unleash Divinity’s forces for good in our lives (Sikh), move closer to God’s restoration of our souls and lives (Parsis), and realize the potential of the God within (Buddhism).
Blame looks backwards, Hope steps forward.
