Looking At Blessings And Struggles A Little Differently

The Perspective of Spirit vs. Embodiment

Carole Bourdo - "Wolf Song"

I think it’s very important for those of us on a spiritual path to be careful about assumptions and generalizations in both our thoughts and communications. I think it’s even more important for those of us on a spiritual leadership/teacher role to be careful how we put our messages out to others based on those assumptions or generalizations. As with anything in life, generalizing an entire group of people because of the actions of a few can be dangerous. By placing fault, blame or accountability on any group as a whole only adds to the negative discourse and feeds the fray of hate and anger.

If you believe in reincarnation then the condition of an individual or a group of people should be viewed from the perspective of spirit and not from their physical condition in this single embodiment. This morning I read an article about the rich that made some generalizations and assumptions about all of them as group that can help me explain my perspective. I do believe the article was well intended and was trying to make a compassionate point, but it’s attempt to shine a light on one aspect of the human condition can be perceived in an opposite manner as well.

The article began:
“Why are some people blessed with over-abundance, while others have nothing? The answer to this common question is, a person is not showered with blessings so they can just indulge in pleasure. When we have more than we need, it does not really belong to us. From a spiritual point of view, it has been given to us to hold in escrow.”

Some of these people having an over-abundance may have earned every penny of indulgence from a past or several past experiences. Those souls who are struggling may be paying a karmic debt or learning a valuable spiritual lesson as a result of a past or several past experiences. Approaching any situation in the human condition from the perspective ‘escrow’ only looks at this incarnated embodiment and does not take into account the struggles or abundant lifetimes in the past. If you walk the path of metaphysics in all it’s forms then a belief in reincarnation is one of the cornerstones of that belief. You can’t ignore its Universal Laws and segment this life from the past incarnations. We are a sum of all our parts and embodiments, be they only in spirit or in past incarnations.

Back to the article and my example:
Today in our world economy it’s easy to blame the rich for all the poverty in the world because some of the wealthy 1% seemingly caused the current financial disasters. But it’s important to remember that there have been financially successful people throughout history, just as there have been people in poverty long before this modern financial crisis. This isn’t something that was created overnight, though many believe the disparity between the two has increased and gotten worse in a relatively short period of time in comparison. But that’s a different topic.

I wish I could say I know a lot of rich people, but I don’t. I do know a few and each of them worked very hard for the financial successes they have. And every one of them does provide for others in need, but they rarely if ever, talk about that. They leave their support/care/donations anonymously and they don’t do it for accolades, attention or awards. They do it because they know they have been blessed and others are struggling. Just because we don’t see it, or hear about it, doesn’t mean they don’t do it.

As a pagan, I don’t believe “God” has blessed some over others. To me that perspective places “God” in the perspective of favoring some over others on a whim. We create our blessings in this life and the next based on our own actions. I, as an individual soul/spirit, am responsible and accountable for both my failures and my successes. I create my own blessings and I may redeem those blessings in this life, or in the next. This is the perspective of Spirit vs. this single Embodiment.

Just as it’s important not to vilify the rich for being rich, it’s also important not to sanctify the poor for their struggles. It’s easy to generalize in these economic times, but remember not everyone who is struggling now got there because of a market crash. Again not all are victims and some are going through their trials because they have chosen to from a spiritual perspective. It’s hard to understand and remember that at times. Why would a soul want to suffer through starvation, drought or disease? From the spiritual perspective there could be a huge variety of reasons from karmic debt to simply going through the experience and learning from it on a soul level. It’s also important to remember that in spirit or as an incarnated being we have choices and freewill. Many have pulled themselves out of some pretty terrible situations, just as others have fallen from places of abundance.

That doesn’t mean we don’t need to show compassion and care for those in need. Nor does it mean we turn a blind eye to the plight of millions. That’s no better than blaming the rich for being rich. As with all things in life, the answer is through balance and love. When you see someone stumble and fall, you don’t stop to say it was their own fault for wearing those shoes, or not looking where they were going. When you see someone fall, you stop and show compassion by holding out a hand and helping them to stand up again on their own.

Yes we are all accountable for successes and trials in our lives. Either from choices we made today, karma from the past, or lessons we are to learn. But remember being a victim is not an excuse to wallow in self-pity any more than it is a reason to withhold the helping hand. All avenues in life have their own blessings and curses. Somewhere in the world, there is someone else who is suffering much more than you are. If they can get up and face the day, so can you.

By the same token, those that have financial abundance and security are only a short step away from losing everything. The street does go both ways and those you may have disdain for could be the ones you rely on when your house comes crashing down.

None of us truly knows the entire story behind the physical conditions of someone else. We are not privy to their karma or the spiritual lessons they have chosen to experience in this incarnation. So it’s important that we don’t add to the fray or discourse of guilt, hate and negativity, but rather that we show the way to compassion, balance and love of all.