When we find ourselves at odds with our own heart, or feel like aliens in our world, we need to look more deeply into our own work, our own direction and our part in the matrix of humanity. How many of us live lives of joy and communion with others, making their world better through every interaction and transaction? How many of us are rewarded with feelings of validity of our own views and integration in a vibrant community? I would presume, not nearly enough. It seems that the 99% are uniting around issues of class, privilege and unequal distribution of wealth, but the greatest dagger we could put in the side of the ultra wealthy would be to graciously bow out of their system.
I have friends who live in a neighborhood of working class people, mostly dope smokers who earn an honest living, people like this pay the bulk of the taxes that support ne'r do wells and slackers. My friends, however work. They have established a lending library of tools and skills that has sided, roofed and painted virtually every home in their neighborhood. The one family who has branded their neighbors as hillbillies has seen their house go from the best kept place on the block to one of the worst-kept. By banding together and creating a barter network, everyone has done well. The transactions that they make are usually accompanied by a six-pack or a bottle of cheer, just to let one another know that they are appreciated. In speaking with them the other day, I was reminded that the benefits of working in ways that line up with our hearts accrue in ways that working for cash cannot.
knowing that your neighbors are better off, or at least enjoying their lives more because of our actions feeds our souls rather than our pocketbooks. There have been stories circulating about the government trying to tax barter networks for years, but the government has no business infringing on religious organizations. My God, if you want to call "it" something, demands and commands me to make other people's lives better. Governments that desire to serve us need to take heed of the fact that person to person assistance need never be taxed, because there is no need for "help" from any agency or commission. Love flows like water when we participate in community. Taking from one to give to another establishes a completely antithetical relationship to how people normally interact. Like the folk tale about stone soup, we all bring something to the culture that we share, but only chasing the dollars that keep us warm and fed will never lead us to a just or integrated society.
I recently spoke with a young adult who had never heard of the Stone Soup story. Please skip ahead if you already know it, but from time to time I like to tell a story of old that has relevance to the moment.
A bedraggled traveler made his way into t he town square one day and began to ask the local residents if they could spare a bit of food, for he was hungry and in great need. After being turned away by the local residents, he devised a plan. He told the people that he was in possession of a magical stone. It had the power to create a rich and savory soup. Stone soup. The townspeople told one another and like wildfire the story spread and they all turned out to see the miracle. Gathered in the square, they listened intently, but in disbelief to the story about this special stone. "First I will need the biggest cauldron in the village, and a spoon to stir the soup" said the traveler.
At once, the shopkeeper went to his store and got the biggest pot he had in stock, so big in fact, that even the poor townspeople could not afford to buy it. An old woman left briefly and returned bearing a large spoon. They filled the cauldron half way with water from the village well. The mystic traveler stirred the water and gently prodded the crowd. What makes this soup most wonderful is if you add a few potatoes. One young fellow ran off and returned with a dozen of the biggest potatoes any of them had ever seen. After they were cubed and added to the pot, the wise traveler stirred it with great care and checked the consistency of the water by lifting the large spoon just above the water line, (which was a bit higher because of the potatoes.) The weaving of the story continued, after telling of the mystic qualities of the stone once again, the man added that the soup always turned out better when a few carrots were added, or an onion. Pretty soon, as he wove the story into a vibrant tapestry, the ingredients began to flow and followed the trajectory of most movements. from the first few ingredients to salt, spice and even fresh meat. "Just a sliver of ham really adds a lot to this soup." said the man. The butcher, caught up in the excitement, just happened to be willing to part with a chunk of his cured meat.
As you can imagine, the rich and sustaining stew that developed, when each and every towns person added a tiny bit, fed not only the weary traveler, but the entire town.So too, if we all give a bit, what we get back is multiplied many times over. Who wouldn't trade the use of their expensive tools for a great feast, or a few potatoes from their larder for a wonderful stew? The fact that there are those who have not yet heard the wisdom that lives between the words of this story makes me just a bit sad. As we all travel along our paths, it is well to know that there are always folks who detest the idea of giving anything away, but who are willing to part with some of what they have in excess for the opportunity to be part of a miraculous endeavor. What we need at this moment in time is nothing short of a miracle.
I have friends who live in a neighborhood of working class people, mostly dope smokers who earn an honest living, people like this pay the bulk of the taxes that support ne'r do wells and slackers. My friends, however work. They have established a lending library of tools and skills that has sided, roofed and painted virtually every home in their neighborhood. The one family who has branded their neighbors as hillbillies has seen their house go from the best kept place on the block to one of the worst-kept. By banding together and creating a barter network, everyone has done well. The transactions that they make are usually accompanied by a six-pack or a bottle of cheer, just to let one another know that they are appreciated. In speaking with them the other day, I was reminded that the benefits of working in ways that line up with our hearts accrue in ways that working for cash cannot.
knowing that your neighbors are better off, or at least enjoying their lives more because of our actions feeds our souls rather than our pocketbooks. There have been stories circulating about the government trying to tax barter networks for years, but the government has no business infringing on religious organizations. My God, if you want to call "it" something, demands and commands me to make other people's lives better. Governments that desire to serve us need to take heed of the fact that person to person assistance need never be taxed, because there is no need for "help" from any agency or commission. Love flows like water when we participate in community. Taking from one to give to another establishes a completely antithetical relationship to how people normally interact. Like the folk tale about stone soup, we all bring something to the culture that we share, but only chasing the dollars that keep us warm and fed will never lead us to a just or integrated society.
I recently spoke with a young adult who had never heard of the Stone Soup story. Please skip ahead if you already know it, but from time to time I like to tell a story of old that has relevance to the moment.
A bedraggled traveler made his way into t he town square one day and began to ask the local residents if they could spare a bit of food, for he was hungry and in great need. After being turned away by the local residents, he devised a plan. He told the people that he was in possession of a magical stone. It had the power to create a rich and savory soup. Stone soup. The townspeople told one another and like wildfire the story spread and they all turned out to see the miracle. Gathered in the square, they listened intently, but in disbelief to the story about this special stone. "First I will need the biggest cauldron in the village, and a spoon to stir the soup" said the traveler.
At once, the shopkeeper went to his store and got the biggest pot he had in stock, so big in fact, that even the poor townspeople could not afford to buy it. An old woman left briefly and returned bearing a large spoon. They filled the cauldron half way with water from the village well. The mystic traveler stirred the water and gently prodded the crowd. What makes this soup most wonderful is if you add a few potatoes. One young fellow ran off and returned with a dozen of the biggest potatoes any of them had ever seen. After they were cubed and added to the pot, the wise traveler stirred it with great care and checked the consistency of the water by lifting the large spoon just above the water line, (which was a bit higher because of the potatoes.) The weaving of the story continued, after telling of the mystic qualities of the stone once again, the man added that the soup always turned out better when a few carrots were added, or an onion. Pretty soon, as he wove the story into a vibrant tapestry, the ingredients began to flow and followed the trajectory of most movements. from the first few ingredients to salt, spice and even fresh meat. "Just a sliver of ham really adds a lot to this soup." said the man. The butcher, caught up in the excitement, just happened to be willing to part with a chunk of his cured meat.
As you can imagine, the rich and sustaining stew that developed, when each and every towns person added a tiny bit, fed not only the weary traveler, but the entire town.So too, if we all give a bit, what we get back is multiplied many times over. Who wouldn't trade the use of their expensive tools for a great feast, or a few potatoes from their larder for a wonderful stew? The fact that there are those who have not yet heard the wisdom that lives between the words of this story makes me just a bit sad. As we all travel along our paths, it is well to know that there are always folks who detest the idea of giving anything away, but who are willing to part with some of what they have in excess for the opportunity to be part of a miraculous endeavor. What we need at this moment in time is nothing short of a miracle.
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