A Little Update

There are currently 70 members (including me) in my Facebook group, Little Sacrifices and Imperfect Offerings. That’s not bad. However, only three or four have actually posted about something that they’ve given up, as a gesture (at least) of caring about imminent climate disaster.

I saw an inspiring film recently by Portland music producer and filmmaker Quincy Davis, entitled Voices of the Wisdomkeepers, in which four esteemed indigenous elders are interviewed. One of them states that being AGAINST anything is never enough – whether you’re protesting an unjust law or a pipeline or whatever – because, ultimately, opposition only reinforces what it opposes. What’s needed instead are positive, life-affirming actions.

I’m paraphrasing brutally and anyway that isn’t a new idea. I’ve heard variations of it before and I’m sure you have too. But in applying it to my own recent “little sacrifice” – turning off my hot tub to conserve a little energy – it occurs to me that this was essentially a “negative” deed. I’m merely denying myself something, not creating anything. I suppose I could say I “created” a “savings” of some infinitesimal fraction of a fraction of our shared natural gas reserves but that’s pretty intangible. I don’t even notice that on my utility bill, much less on the earth.

I still believe in the cause – gestures of caring, and a slowly snowballing new sense of shared responsibility and a willingness to “tithe” some of our life energy for the big picture and for future generations. But I recognize the limitations of any abstract idea, including that one.

So in a humble attempt to attach something positive and tangible (at least in the form of words) to my sacrifice of hot-tub luxury, I’m appending a prayer to my little sacrifice.

Perhaps if everyone finds a prayer in their heart to add to any of their little sacrifices and imperfect offerings, it might help. 

Maybe adding a prayer is even “enough,” whatever that means. Anyway …

My Prayer, Apropos of the Hot Tub

May I feel warm and pleasant and content

May I feel cradled in the nurturance and comfort of divine love at all times, in all moments (even my most ignoble ones), whether I am contained within the miracle of water or within the miracle of air or within the gift of clothing or any other medium

May I feel at ease in my body

May I be able to thrash around with joy

May I be happily naked

And may you as well, whoever is reading this. All of the above, for you too. And all sentient beings.

Amen.”