Circles

Like many things in life the reality of karma is never simply black and white.  There are those who live within karma’s envelope while others deny karma’s existence.  Both make a good case for their perspective.  For those who do not engage in the debate it is easier to live as if karma just wasn’t or isn’t. 
 
From my experience and years I find karma to be a powerful force.  You and are sow seeds in our relationships with those in our community, others we have only met casually, and even with the institutions we do business with.  Our choice of actions influences the way each views and responds.  Our decisions come back to replay themselves one or more times in the future.  Even our response to the choice of others creates a life ripple which will come back as an echo, at some point.
 
In the competitive caldron of New York, finding those cutting corners, taking risks, and living on the edge is easy.  For a wide variety of reasons and drivers, some good, others less so, individuals are risking their lives for what might be gained in the immediate.  Health is sacrificed.  Personal security is ignored.  Honor used as something expendable.  Even trust, accountability, and loyalty are optional! 
 
God gives a warning to those who would ignore the karma of their lives; “doom to you, Destroyer, not yet destroyed; and doom to you, Betrayer, not yet betrayed.  When you finish destroying, your turn will come—destroyed!  When you quit betraying, your turn will come—betrayed!”  (Isaiah 33.1)
 
God also gives a promise to those who would see themselves and their karma in the full light of day.  “I love and accept you as you are in the present.  I will accept your karma and give you mine.  My karma is compassion in action, mercy alive, and unconditional acceptance lived.  Your next step is clean.  Your burden taken away.”
 
We carry our karma’s with us.  Today I’ll give mine up for God’s.  It’s an incredible opportunity available to us all.  We can, if we choose.