This past Saturday I learned something neat from a 14-year old fellow named Wil.
I had been discussing with him and his mom about 'life' stuff, and how important it is that we all do something of service for others, the environment, etc. We can all walk our own paths chock full of the highs and lows and sudden right turns and screeching left turns...but there is always the opportunity to do something for others, and therein lies the healing powers for ourselves as well as those around us.
"There is a Jewish word for that," said Wil. "Don't remember what it is, but there is a word that describes everything you just said."
I've been around almost half a century and have studied many spiritual texts from myriad sources, but nothing in my memory was jarred. I knew my morning producer John would know, so when I asked him yesterday morning about it he said, "yeah, Tikkun olam."
Tikkun olam.
"The spirit of Tikkun olam involves protecting and restoring the resources of the earth, including human resources. We are responsible for the condition of our planet and we have a duty to nurture and preserve it."
It's a beautiful phrase with powerful meaning...and certainly not unique to Judaism. Native American spirituality involves the same principles of stewardship and reverence. It's a shame more of our government officials don't embody it, though.
In sifting through more sites and information, I found an interesting quote from Tikkun magazine...they have a two-fold vision of the interrelationship between social justice and religion. Their premise is that advocacy of economic and political rights must balance with spiritual needs to achieve any sense of social justice and improvement:
"We in the Tikkun Community use the word "spiritual" to include all those whose deepest values lead them to challenge the ethos of selfishness and materialism that has led people into a frantic search for money and power and away from a life that places love, kindness, generosity, peace, non-violence, social justice, awe and wonder at the grandeur of creation, thanksgiving, humility and joy at the center of our lives."
Amen to that. The old saying says money is the root of all evil, but I know money itself isn't inherently evil. The obsession, fixation, and greed factors that often can grow from chasing money and materialism are the poisonous sprouts, however, and whether blatant or subtle it's rather pervasive.
That's why I found Tikkun olam to be so refreshing..."old school" philosophy says we fix things by going to war and using force, and throwing gobs of money in questionable directions, not understanding that spiritual matters must be addressed up front and center if we truly want a healing and positive growth to take place in our communities and in this world.
Years ago Virginia Slims cigarettes used the slogan "You've come a long way, Baby!" I'd change that around and say "We've got a long way to go, Baby!" And that road starts with daily decisions each of us makes.
I had been discussing with him and his mom about 'life' stuff, and how important it is that we all do something of service for others, the environment, etc. We can all walk our own paths chock full of the highs and lows and sudden right turns and screeching left turns...but there is always the opportunity to do something for others, and therein lies the healing powers for ourselves as well as those around us.
"There is a Jewish word for that," said Wil. "Don't remember what it is, but there is a word that describes everything you just said."
I've been around almost half a century and have studied many spiritual texts from myriad sources, but nothing in my memory was jarred. I knew my morning producer John would know, so when I asked him yesterday morning about it he said, "yeah, Tikkun olam."
Tikkun olam.
"The spirit of Tikkun olam involves protecting and restoring the resources of the earth, including human resources. We are responsible for the condition of our planet and we have a duty to nurture and preserve it."
It's a beautiful phrase with powerful meaning...and certainly not unique to Judaism. Native American spirituality involves the same principles of stewardship and reverence. It's a shame more of our government officials don't embody it, though.
In sifting through more sites and information, I found an interesting quote from Tikkun magazine...they have a two-fold vision of the interrelationship between social justice and religion. Their premise is that advocacy of economic and political rights must balance with spiritual needs to achieve any sense of social justice and improvement:
"We in the Tikkun Community use the word "spiritual" to include all those whose deepest values lead them to challenge the ethos of selfishness and materialism that has led people into a frantic search for money and power and away from a life that places love, kindness, generosity, peace, non-violence, social justice, awe and wonder at the grandeur of creation, thanksgiving, humility and joy at the center of our lives."
Amen to that. The old saying says money is the root of all evil, but I know money itself isn't inherently evil. The obsession, fixation, and greed factors that often can grow from chasing money and materialism are the poisonous sprouts, however, and whether blatant or subtle it's rather pervasive.
That's why I found Tikkun olam to be so refreshing..."old school" philosophy says we fix things by going to war and using force, and throwing gobs of money in questionable directions, not understanding that spiritual matters must be addressed up front and center if we truly want a healing and positive growth to take place in our communities and in this world.
Years ago Virginia Slims cigarettes used the slogan "You've come a long way, Baby!" I'd change that around and say "We've got a long way to go, Baby!" And that road starts with daily decisions each of us makes.
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