Profound V

For Our Sins

 

…These "sins" are a jumping off point for a contemplation of the ways that we may wish to change ourselves and our society…

 

…For the sins we have committed…in our communities by being so preoccupied with ourselves that we ignore the larger problems of the world in which we live;

 

And for the sins we have committed…directed toward outward realities that we have ignored…

 

For the sin of allowing civil liberties to be undermined;

 

…And for the sin of failing to be stewards of the planet;

 

...For the sin of accepting a world in which the "bottom line" is money and power, and not fighting for a new bottom line of love and caring;

 

...And for the sin of being passive recipients of negativity or listening and allowing others to spread hurtful stories;

 

And for the sin of attachment to our own picture of how our lives should be, and never taking the risks that could bring us a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

 

…And for the sin of having too little compassion or too little respect for our parents or for our children;

 

…And for the sin of not supporting each other as we attempt to change;

 

For the sin of being jealous and trying to possess and control those we love;

 

And for the sin of being judgmental;

 

For the sin of withholding love and support;

 

And for the sin of doubting our ability to love and get love from others;

 

For the sin of insisting that everything we do have a payoff;

 

And for the sin of not allowing ourselves to play;

 

For the sin of not giving our partners and friends the love and support they need to feel safe and to flourish;

 

And for the sin of being manipulative or hurting others to protect our own egos;

 

…And for the sins of tribalism, chauvinism, and thinking our pain is more important than anyone else's pain;

 

And for the sin of not putting our money and our time behind our highest ideals;

 

…And for the sin of being passive when the courageous among us get publicly attacked;

 

And for the sin of not transcending ego so we could see ourselves as we are…

 

Michael Lerner