The re-entry facility planned for the Shasta County area created a wonderful dialogue opportunity for the community. We were given the chance to engage in our government and express our opinions. Those we placed in positions of authority listened and made a decision based on peaceful input from our community. The primary issue was lack of trust in the state’s promises and the likelihood the facility would change purposes from what was promised. Hopefully, the state can someday repair its reputation with its residents.
Even though that issue was resolved, we still have the reality of former prisoners coming back to our community. How do we deal with them? We tend to focus on their past deeds and believe they will only harm us again or that additional punishments are necessary. Self-righteous indignation (we would never do anything like that, would we?) tends to lead to anger (how dare they!), and then to hatred (punish them more!).
We become rigid and create a separation from another. There is no room for compassion as we are too consumed with their behavior. Before we can deal with them with compassion and offer appropriate services for their rehabilitation, we must come to peace within ourselves.
Pema Chodron, an American Buddhist nun, often quotes this definition of peace: “Softening what is rigid in our hearts.” When we go within and examine the root cause of our own anger and judgment, we will then be in a position to compassionately serve those members of our extended human family.
No comments:
Post a Comment