But Are We Human

In a world fractured by division, where ugly lines separate us from one another, perhaps we need to look both backward and forward to find our way through.

Here’s something worth remembering: In 1928, America erupted in controversy over the possibility of electing a Catholic president. Terrible things were said about Al Smith—the same kinds of poisonous rhetoric we hear today about other religions and nationalities.

We humans haven’t always been tolerant. Throughout history, humans acting as humans have done terrible things to each other.

But here’s the deeper question: Are we only human?

Must we limit ourselves to that identity?

What if we could see ourselves as something more?

And if we did, couldn’t the automatic human responses—fight or flight, which left unchecked spiral into greed, hate, and selfishness—be overridden, dissolved, and left behind forever?

A Different Current Running Beneath

Despite the deafening thunder of discord reverberating through our world, something else is happening. Something far more powerful.

It’s expanding, flowing, and infiltrating even the darkest spaces.

Let’s turn our full attention to that.

Give it our complete focus and unwavering support. Instead of amplifying the cruelty that fills the airwaves, we can refuse to give hate and greed any more power.

Kurt Vonnegut, one of my favorite authors, offered us this wisdom:

“Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let the pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place.”

Living From Our True Identity

Be soft. Be kind.

Instead of defaulting to fight or flight, we can recognize ourselves as part of something far greater than that primitive response.

We can override our conditioned human patterns and choose to live from our true identity—as children of the One.

In this identity, nothing can truly separate us. No religions. No beliefs. No creeds.

In the awareness of our Oneness, we find only love.

From Fight or Flight to Tend and Befriend

Instead of reacting with aggression or retreat, we can embrace a different movement: tend and befriend.

This approach springs from understanding that we are not separate. We rise and fall together. This awareness breeds kindness and reminds us that connection is our true nature.

We tend—taking care of each other, our planet, our neighbors, friends, and strangers.

We befriend what needs befriending.

We allow ourselves to be tended to and befriended when we need it.

We refuse any desire, conscious or unconscious, to express disdain—whether in person or on social media.

Trolls are not who we are. We only tend and befriend.

A Simple Formula for Kindness

Over a century ago, Indian spiritual teacher Sai Baba gave us a formula for choosing kindness:

“Before you speak, ask yourself: Is it kind? Is it necessary? Is it true? Does it improve upon the silence?”

Human habits can be challenging to overcome. Personality attachment can be hard to release.

But the reward for acting from our true spiritual identity—and treating others as if they share that same essence—will far outweigh any difficulty in making this shift.

The Time Is Now

It’s never too late. But it’s never too early either.

The time is now.

Choose friends, family, tribes, groups, churches, governments, and media that support “tend and befriend.”

Whether you’re the one standing in front of the crowd or supporting it all behind the scenes doesn’t matter.

We each have our role, and we each have the strength and wisdom to fulfill our purpose.

Tend and befriend. It’s simple.

All truth is simple. Love has no boundaries or rules.

As our granddaughter and her friends say: “Love is love.”

Amen to that.

Let me close with another gem from Kurt Vonnegut:

“Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It’s hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It’s round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you’ve got a hundred years here. There’s only one rule that I know of, babies—God damn it, you’ve got to be kind.”