I read excerpts from the 1492 journals of Christopher Columbus. It is amazing that the Spaniards could land on a clearly inhabited island, state a few declarations and, thereby, claim that place and its people as possessions of the King and Queen of Spain. Columbus noted that the people were very friendly, were unfamiliar with weapons such as swords, and would make good servants. There was never a thought that this was a sovereign land with people of equal worth, free will, and determination.
This is the way that the world was and is conquered. The violent intruders succeed, prevail, and prosper. The indigenous people are killed, enslaved, and assimilated by blood and culture. Where is Spirit in all of this, I frequently ask?
During my meditation, an answer came that Spirit endures. It continues as men and regimes come and go. Destruction and creation occur, even without mortal intervention, in the forms of fires, earthquakes, floods, asteroids falling from space and other disasters. Life ends, begins, and constantly regenerates itself after every trauma.
What then should our response be in the face of threat? There is no one right or wrong because everyone believes in their right and the other’s wrong. There is only action and the consequences of that action. Because Spirit endures, there is no eternal loss or death. Each generation, each re-emerged life, repeats the struggle of trying to birth what is deemed good and fair and productive and creative. At some point and somewhere, an evolved species emerges, but the cycle repeats itself again and again – creation and destruction indefinitely. Because that is Life.
So how should we behave? What is the point of trying to live with virtue and integrity? I want to behave as I am able, with the knowledge that I have at the time, and not judge myself or others. I want to always seek to evolve into more awareness and more enlightenment so that what I destroy is not more than I create. I want what I create to not overwhelm what exists and cause the extinction of seeds that will ensure the survival of what will be.