Sunday, February 27, 2011

The Opposite of War is Creation

In the year and a half following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, there were more babies born in this country than for many years prior. I found this statistic surprising when I learned it a few years ago. Logically, I would think that in war times or war torn countries, parents might think twice about bringing another child into the world, or that wombs would close up out of sheer terror or sadness. But it's quite the opposite as statistics show.

Most of those 2002 babies are now in second grade. If you go to an elementary school performance, you can see the difference in class sizes. There are just so many more second graders.

I always tell my yoga students that the babies that are coming now are more spiritually and mentally evolved than ever before--because these are the children that are going to usher in the age of peace. It is hard to think our children are more spiritually evolved that we are. Aren't we wise and experienced and here to teach them?

Yes. And Yes. We will teach them many things. But the most important thing that we may teach them is their divine birthright and to trust in their own inner wisdom. Even when they are in the throws of childhood--tantrums, mischief, etc--we must remember not to do anything to them that makes them forget who they are.

When my daughter was a new toddler, she would occasionally throw tantrums and I would just look at her and say, "I know. It's hard being a world that is not as advanced as you. I'm doing my best with the tools I have and I hope that you are patient with me."

The tantrums didn't end that second, but once she felt heard, she'd pick up her work of moving books and toys from room to room and there seemed to be a greater understanding between us.

I once heard a woman give a talk and she was talking about how rotten the world is getting, but she said that the world can't be all bad yet, because as long as babies are being born, that means that God still has some belief in the goodness and salvage-ability of it. For many years (pre-baby) I was skeptical of that line of reasoning. But now I totally believe it.

So in addition, it's also up to us as parents not to do anything to frighten them from becoming creators themselves. By this I mean mothers and fathers, but also artists. Many of you out there are afraid to call yourself artists. I know. I hear it all the time from bonefide professionals. Even many people that make a living at art don't feel like they can call themselves artists. Perhaps this is because of the myths we have created about what a real artist is. (Real artists wear hats, have cool parties, are drug addicts, are divorced, etc.) But the truth is, a real artist creates and a real artist speaks truth. This is why in every dictatorship, the first thing they do is get rid of all the artists.

The opposite of war is not peace. It is creation.

Dream. Love. Create. It's what love does.

11 comments:

  1. Beautiful thoughts. It reminded me of something I posted on my blog about artists and motherhood.
    http://allgoodtreasuresinheaven.blogspot.com/2010/01/discovering-great-artists.html

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  2. Love the "Rent" quote. A beautiful post.

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  3. Robyn I love it. I added your blog to my side bar. Being a mother is like being an artist.

    Liz, I didn't realize they used that quote in Rent. I think it was around way before the nineties thought. Isn't it in the bible? Hee Hee. :)

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  4. I don't think so... I searched the terms "war" and "creation" in the scriptures and it didn't have any results. And as far as my googling takes me, that quote was originally accredited to Jonathan Larson, the writer of "Rent." I wasn't suggesting that was a bad thing, though.

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  5. Liz, I was totally joking about it being in the Bible. I love it when people attribute things to the Bible that aren't in there. Like someone once told me that that the poem "Footprints" was in the Bible. :) Anyway, I'm Glad Jonathan Larson put it on paper. Even though our bodyminds have known it for centuries. Hooray for writers for speaking the truth.

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  6. LOVE the way you write, generally, and this post is just wonderful! Thank you.

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  7. Six months after we bought our present home we learned that terrible crimes against women were committed by the previous owner--who is now serving a life sentence. One year later I gave birth to my little Freddie in the living room. I have always felt that it redeemed this house. Creation is indeed the opposite of war.

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  8. Stephanie. Wow. That's all I can say.

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  9. I really love this post. I've heard you say these things before but it is wonderful to see them all put together. I think that our society is slowly devaluing life and it is kind of scary. I think it will be one of our greatest responsibilities to teach our children how to value life-- I think that will bring peace. I think that is one of the reason I feel so passionate about birth... it is the start of that process. It makes me excited to see all the women who are realizing that "peace of earth begins at birth". I use to think that was a cheesy saying but now I see how true it really is.

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  10. I love this post. I really dislike war and I have always equated the opposite with peace. But I love the idea that the opposite is creation.

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