Verse 37 of the Tao Te Ching reads:
The Tao does nothing,
But leaves nothing undone.This verse reminds us to give up control. OMG – what a concept! Is there truly a way
to do "nothing," yet "leave nothing undone"? We become so attached to the outcome that we see. And we are attached to the roles we play in producing those outcomes. In so
doing, we impose our judgment and expectation onto others. Everything in our culture seems to revolve around the idea of "doing more" and "doing it my way." It may be
difficult to imagine a way of life empty of such striving. Wayne Dyer writes, "Of all the troubles that are reported in the media – including wars, terrorism, famine, hatred, crime,
and disease – how many are the result of interfering with the natural unfolding of creation? How much of the essential nature of ourselves and our planet is able to shine
through? What would Earth be like if government didn't meddle in everyone's lives?
What if no one could be perceived as an enemy? Could there be a world where groups of people never got together to control others or to
invade or conquer – how about where oceans, mountains, natural resources, air, plants, and animals were respected and allowed to flourish
without interference? Suppose that such a place of simplicity and lack of interference existed…it would be acting exactly as the Tao does, doing nothing and yet leaving nothing undone."
Don't we all desire for our essential nature to shine through? Even if we don't know what our essential nature really is, we would like to be that
real self. Maybe instead of striving to be this or that, to be better, to learn more, to do more, we practice just being. This verse not only
inspires us to give up trying to control others, but also to give up trying to control ourselves, to lighten up, to dance with life, to be happy with
ourselves just like we are. What patience this requires!
The next time we feel the urge to jump in and start giving advice, whether to others or ourselves, maybe we can remember the last line of this
powerful verse: When there is silence, one finds the anchor of the universe within oneself.
This week, let us agree to hold the space for others and ourselves as we affirm for all that the essential nature of each one will shine through all
the distractions of life and we will know what is ours to do and not to do. Living in Simplicity, Rev. Robin
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