Break the Habit, Seize the Opportunity

As is often the case with spiritual teachings, we are given contexts in contemporary life where these lessons are applicable. However, due to the unofficial "wall" that pop culture has erected between spirituality and "real life", many do not find value in spiritual teachings, or are unable to grasp lessons in the abstract, and often end up (repeating and) learning lessons the hard way far more often than is necessary.

In these latest musings, I take inspiration from Numbers chapter 14. Now, if you are one who believes that the Bible is full of meaningless fairy tales, or if you find the idea of God as one Who can't control "His" emotions as inherently problematic, then you probably won't get much here; in fact, you'll miss the point entirely.

In this pericope, we find the Children of Israel at a watershed moment in their history, having complained themselves out of an inheritance.

[6] And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:
[7] And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, "The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.
[8] If the LORD delight in us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.
[9] Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not."
[10] But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.
[11] And the LORD said unto Moses, "How long will this people provoke Me? and how long will it be ere they believe Me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?

[22] "Because all those men which have seen My glory, and My miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted Me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to My voice;
[23] Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked Me see it:
[24] But My servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed Me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it."

My point this time is about our general lack of self awareness--and awareness in general--that causes us to remain stuck in time consuming and soul-wearying cycles brought on by bad (spiritual) habits, and thus, repeatedly cause us to miss opportunities for "advancement" and a better quality of daily life. We can find a contemporary example of this if we contemplate the so-called "criminal justice system."

One of the most insidious aspects of the cycle of recitivism is the home environment of the offender, which is often one blighted by poverty. Sadly, our society has tacidly accepted poverty as a necessary aspect of life. As my father used to say, "Silence gives consent." Poverty has driven many people to enter into a life of crime as a last resort to ensure self preservation. Often, these ones, many of whom have considerable intelligence, find themselves sucked into a criminal justice system built largely on the backs of those trying to escape their demoralizing plight.

Once they serve their time (usually without meaningful intervention), they are typically released back into the same impoverished environment. Faced with the same blight, surrounded by people burdened by hopelessness, compelled by the constant need for food, shelter and rainment, and tainted by the stain of the moniker, "criminal", most are as ill-equipped as they were the first time to resist the gravitational pull of "the system" that traps them and feeds off of them, even though there are "alternatives" (e.g. education)...

This prison industrial complex, which masquerades as a criminal justice system, enriches the controllers of society, who hide behind hollow, moralistic platitudes which they present to the public; all the while working to ensure that this system, which provides them with life blood, continues to function. As it has been said, "the criminal justice system is not broken; it is working exactly as it was designed to function."

Fortunately, many of us have been able to escape the tentacles of this soul-crushing enterprise. However, we may not be a free as we think we are, and as a result, we could be missing out on a better quality of life and a brighter future.

Although we claim to be free today (especially in the USA), we certainly are not. On top of the scramble to accumulate money to live, the 24-hour media programs us with propaganda about what to wear, how to look, and what to think. And so many, without realizing it, have capitulated to this machine. But, God did not create us to be slaves. As anyone with a teenager can attest, there comes a point when the spirit becomes agitated in the familiar and yearns for freedom.

However, without having developed the practices to become aware of our mindsets, desires, and fears, we cannot really see the evidence that directly contradicts the justification to live life way the we have experienced it up until now, nor can we see how it poses a problem for us being able to take advantage of divine opportunities that await us once we break out of cycles caused by bad habits.

Right now, many of us may still be trapped in our own bad habits, trapped by memories of a troubled past, haunted by mistakes we haven't made peace with, or anguished by the pain caused by dysfunctional relationships. Some of us are stuck in a rut of complacency, having given up the fight against assimilation. Whatever the reason, we find ourselves unconsciously driving around in circles in life, coming to the same place, time and time again. Maybe we're in a different car, in a different city, around different people, but deep inside, we know in our hearts that it's the same place... again!

The existential question before us today is, how does one escape from one's own mind that one cannot see? How does one learn to become aware of, and subsequently rectify those subconscious thoughts and desires that keep us trapped in these habits? How do we learn to end the dysfunctional cycles in our lives so that we can enjoy a rebirth, reconciliation, and a closer relationship with our fellowmen and with God?

All of us, at some point in life, will find ourselves in such a cycle, which I have come to appreciate as a merciful gift from God. Repeated iterations afford us multiple opportunities to reconsider the various paths that have led us to this place and see if we can discover the missing piece(s) and make things right. If you have noticed yourself visiting the same dreary wilderness place repeatedly, it is time to take notice and make a change.

Until next time...