Congratulations on your new creative partner, the Mac. I hope it brings you as much freedom and pleasure as it does those that designed it.

And, thank you for your poignant writing. I’ve read several of your articles here over the past month (as I travelled to the Middle East and back to “good ole’ USA.” They’ve been a pleasant companion.

I don’t wish to presume to know you from these writings, but I do understand a persistant viewpoint that they convey. That viewpoint seems to be one of “we are misled,” along with “there’s something very wrong that needs to be set right” and “we can do better.” Please correct me if I’m misunderstanding.

I spent a couple of weeks in Israel last fall, working and getting acquainted with Jerusalem. As a community, it reveals all that is true about us as both humans and spiritual beings. There is worship and anger in the same place and the same time; there is openness, loving acceptance, and rejection in each holy place. There is wealth and poverty living together in the same city block. Perhaps more than any other place I’ve been, Jerusalem has the courage to bear all that we are. And, it’s very uncomfortable to experience, fully.

I longed to visit Jerusalem for many years, and when I did visit, I longed to see it differently. I wanted to be a pilgrim to the shrine, to be inspired with hope. I returned from that visit with hope, but not what I expected. The hope I feel now is in creating conscious relationships (painful as they may be) with my enemies. To know their children, and to give them gifts on their holidays. I met a Muslim man there who cursed me as an American, and a Christian. In reaction I felt defensive, but I was very curious to learn more about him, and his thoughts and ideas. After the anger had subsided, I invited him to share tea and that we might get to know one another. Today, on the birthday of his prophet, I’m sending he and his children presents, and he sent me a wonderful message yesterday to remind me of the glory of Islam, which I now recognize.

So, I, too, yearn to contribute to the evolution of life and consciousness. I’m sure you’ve found many other journeymen (and -women) on this voyage as a result of publishing your ideas openly.

I do not wish for world peace, though. For war is the measure of what a community is willing to suffer when they fail to make peace. I believe America is caught in a spiral of self-worship, greed, and comfort (and I include myself in this accusation). Our comfort comes at the cost of someone else’s suffering. Let us each take back our own suffering and lighten the load of the world?

Instead, I wish for my heart and mind to be opened to humans, just as they are. Is it possible to love those I see as evil, greedy, or ignorant? Am I willing to accept leadership that is human (not simply error prone, but also malicious, or deceptive, or compassionate, etc.) ? I have been given a human life — a transformer of matter into energy through which thoughts can become actions that affect the whole world. How will I use this gift?

May your day be filled with awakenings.