A Walker into Walls!

Well, Matt an’ Anabelle, you've done..  got hitched.
You're making quite a statement in this world,
where each of us hears slogans that are pitched
towards that self expression that's been hurled

at us since we were born: to think of who

is Number One, according to this Myth -

the story that gives rise to culture's zoo

of “Zees” & “Sows”, & “Mx”, ’gainst “Mister”, “Miss”.

Our culture's “self expression”, feigning love

is “helping others out” - so they'll help you -

a kind of, well, obsession, where folk shove

you, for what their desires want you to do.

It's needed, so they say, for their “self-love”,

because they're flat out doing that at all.

Unless you ask for help from up above,

where-ever you are standing now, recall

you’ll prob'ly sink to life as it is here,

as though this is the whole of what is known.

The best help we could have might be a clear

map of where others have been, so we're shown,

and benefit from who has gone before.

The chance to learn from others who share well,

and live a life that is self for-get-ful.

Thus saving us from bringing more of hell

to this ol' Earth, from living like the best

things of this life have come from laws, and pow'r.

Both Matt & Belle, you're hereby placing bets

on 'nother way of living in this hour!

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Our society tells us “put yourself first”, “look after number one!”,  “go for your dreams”. Depending on the context, there can be some truth in those statements, but as a guiding light, an overall dictum, or way forward, I reckon you won't stay married more than a couple of years if you follow this advice. If I spend my time focussing on what makes me feel good, on demanding that you treat me as I want to be treated, I end up turning life with my mate into a battle between despots, and I can easily miss love.

As Mat 'n Annabelle know, the person who was (in my opinion) the most loving authentic leader that humanity has seen, communicated his own shocking Way forward, to hopeful followers:

Give up all rights to yourself, take up your instrument of slow, undignified, painful death, and follow me!

This Way forward is at odds with our society's mantra regarding the way forward, and ends up demanding that I treat others in the same way that I would want to be treated, if I was in their shoes. But, because we are creatures of our culture, you’ll take on your culture's way, unless you continue to choose an alternative. An alternative can be chosen, and our statements can be made; not just by our words, and sometimes only by our actions.

As I view life and marriage at the moment, the real issue that makes them “sing”, or work well, does not have much to do with income or religion: It seems to me that there are two mindsets, one that is scraping for skimpy resources, at the cost of others, as put to us by the dominant Empire based on laws and power, and motivated by the fear of losing control; or there's a mindset that is  sharing abundant resources, at the cost of ourselves out of love, as put to us by humans who are working with the creator of the Universe, for his world and life. This second mindset sees life in this world, as a precursor to & faint picture of what is coming. A bit like our life before we were born, in the womb of our mother was a precursor to and faint picture of life in this world.

This involves not only learning from others, but also learning to listen deeply to them. And of necessity finding your own fulfilment in responding to your creator's wooing call to step up, to Love! So, we're talking about a marriage focused not on self-fulfillment, but on self-giving.

(You might see in this poemish reflection thingo, parts where I am acknowledging a lovely mindset in you two. I hope you'll also see a description of the mindset I think you're up against in our disintegrating culture - what to beware of, and I hope you'll see a few hints as to how to move forward, given the battle we find ourselves in, between these two mindsets. A better name for this might actually be: A Walker into Walls - & through them!)

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