Energy and Wisdom
“The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook”
~William James, Principles of Psychology
As Lent comes to a close and Holy Week begins, we are surrounded by noise — especially politics. Amidst this noise there is a great need for the voice of justice and truth. But there is a greater need for silence. After all, these are not two voices, but one in the same.
The polemics of the day set the stage in their own “either/or” terms. Sides must be taken. No quarter can be given. The so-called “conversation” is toxic.
Even when brave souls enter the wasteland of politics, noble energy is quickly sapped and anger ensues. And, all-too-often, anger begets hatred.
Perhaps, the sign of wisdom during this time of such poignant bitterness is to overlook the surface of politics altogether.
There are some who may have stores of energy that are exceptional. This is not the case for me. I find that when I spend my energy in the stagnant pool of status quo, media-crazed politics, I have less energy to offer towards loving others.
This is the question that we must ponder: How can my energy be used wisely? What must I overlook? What is the deeper question? How can I love?
If we all stopped bickering on these endless diatribes of artificial politics and went outside to talk to the homeless, invited them to eat in our homes, and gave them the clothes we never wear in our closets and dressers, what would the world become?
Those who debate health care and, in the process, do great damage to the health of their own heart and soul — and their ability to love others — are tragic examples of the dis-figuration of the human spirit by shallow affiliations. They sacrifice the health of an entire culture in exchange for political prizes.
Politics has become a spectacle. Transfigured by this spectacle, we lose sight of the Cross, our neighbor, our enemy, and ourselves.
I must use my energy wisely.
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Amen, Sam.
Good post
keep the Lenten reflections/ reminders coming please :-)
Thanks for the reminder….refreshing to say the least.
Mr. Rocha,
I’ve been visiting this website almost daily for the last several months hoping to find objective, reasoned analysis. This morning I had decided that I had had enough and that the analysis offered here was not worth my time or attention so I deleted the URL intending never to visit again.
So much for good intentions. Tonight curiousity got the better of me so I peeked. I admit, I peeked expecting to find one more poorly constructed argument, yet another flawed premise. But, Oh Happy Day! Could it be that you and your confreres know how and when to be SILENT? Know how to REFLECT? Know WISDOM? Can no one produce analysis and commentary based on objective Catholic Truth?
I’ll keep peeking.
Thank you Sam.
To me the biggest issue with the whole debate wasn’t a matter of policy but of practice. How do we do politics? Must we really write legislation that is so obscure that well-intentioned people could make opposite interpretations of what it said? Make no mistake, that was the goal. The legislators had to write something so obtuse that both pro-choice and pro-life politicians could justify their votes to their constituents. This process has hurt many good people. Now is not the time for judgment, but for prayer and fasting.