Seeing Clearly Now

Johnny Nash released his song I Can See Clearly Now in 1972. With the dark clouds gone, a bright sunny day, he could see clearly now. The pain was gone, the doubts were set aside, and he could see clearly now. That theme – conquering the negative and adopting the positive – allows us to see the ‘rainbows we've been praying for’. And we really do see more clearly!

Somewhat similarly, Henry David Thoreau said:

            “It is not what you look at that matters; it is what you see.”

We look at a lot of things, witness much more, but we see little unless it makes an impression on our minds. On the other hand we can train ourselves to pay attention to what is in front of us and see it more clearly. What does that mean? Well, for me it means I notice the whole of a view and see how it fits in with its context, its overall meaning, and the impact it will have going forward. Some people see a young child toddling along; others see and know he is just learning to walk and improving step by step; this will mean a fully independent person one day, learning lessons, learning the ‘how to’ and all the developmental steps he will need to know to become the full human being we hope him to be.

Ignoring these sights and their meaning impoverishes the richness of life’s fabric stretching before our very faces. What is it we see? What do we appreciate? What ideas do we take with us and use day after day, and recall over and over again?

Here’s something simple to demonstrate the point.  Webster’s Dictionary defines ‘liberal’ this way:

“lib’er-al, I.a 1. Possessing or manifesting a free and generous heart; bountiful. 2. Appropriate and/or fitting for a broad and enlightened mind. 3. Free from narrowness, bigotry or bondage to authority or creed. II.n.1. Any person who advocates liberty of thought, speech or action.”

How many other definitions of ‘liberal’ do you know? How many people turn this definition on its ear and upside down to mean something negative, anti-American, political, maybe even nasty?  In the political climate of our nation today we know the negative bent of such discussion. Liberal is the enemy; the spender, the wrecker of free enterprise, and the list goes on and on.

It shouldn't go on and on. All things taken to distortion have little basis of the original meaning of the terms. Does the term ‘liberal’ deserve mistreatment? Does ‘conservative’ deserve the same?  I doubt it. Only people with massive agendas and narrow hearts demean the definitions of these words. Such folks bring dishonor on themselves.

I’m reminded often of the culture of Native Americans.  Here are their Ten Commandments:

1.      Treat the earth and all that dwell thereon with respect

2.      Remain close to the Great Spirit

3.      Show great respect for your fellow beings

4.      Work together for the benefit of all humankind

5.      Give assistance and kindness wherever needed

6.      Do what you know to be right

7.      Look after the well-being of mind and body

8.      Dedicate a share of your efforts to the greater good

9.      Be truthful and honest at all times

10.  Take full responsibility for your actions”

Simplicity, self responsibility, personal action. It’s on me, life is. It’s not on others. I have to live in the real world, take responsibility for my own actions and assist others to do the same. Together we will make the best of it. All the greatest religions on this planet have taught similar lessons. Yet we have troubles unending because we don’t live the lessons were learned.

Do we see what’s in front of us? Do we value it? Do we understand it? Am I over-complicating life? Or maybe over simplifying it?

I hope not. I do think it is basic and simple.

The Dalai Lama cautions us:

“When you talk, you are only repeating what you already know; but when you listen, you may learn something new.”

That is the trick. Listen. See. Think. Learn.

By doing this, we all ‘can see clearly now.”

Or be moving in that direction! We can only hope. And work at it!!

September 30, 2014