I’ve noticed that sometimes it seems that we are only genuinely interested in connecting if others have something to offer us—something to assist us in our own journey. I notice this in myself at times, and it startles me because I tend to think I am a genuine person. I live for meaningful connections, wherever I find them. I honestly believe that all people have something to offer the world, some glimmering of Grace and Beauty and Love and Truth in their souls, and I’ll see it if I just take the time to recognize it. So with this belief, why do I still find myself not actually present with some people?
After pondering on this for some time, I’ve come to the realization that this selective connection mindset has to do with our collective superhero complex. For the past couple decades, superhero movies have been the main revenue maker at the box office; men and women, young and old all love to watch one individual save the world. This speaks volumes to our collective consciousness. We all have this deep desire to contribute to something meaningful. We want to be “the one” to make everything better, to make it all okay. And in our quest to be the savior we tend to seek out support from those we believe will help us get to where we need to go, thus we become selective in the genuine connections we make with those around us. The trouble with this is that it is alienating to a significant portion of the people we come in contact with, let alone those with whom we never engage. What’s more, it perpetuates a contest between basically all people who feel called to make meaningful change in the world.
This deep desire to contribute to something meaningful is a beautiful thing; however, it has become distorted by a world that values competition over cooperation. We no longer live in a time where superheroes can actually save us. The challenges facing our communities and our world, at present, are so complex that it will actually take all of us to overcome them, literally, and that means that genuine connections with, and compassionate concern for, all people are an integral aspect of our collective advancement. Yes, there is a deep, innate desire in each of us to contribute to something beautiful and worthwhile, and this is magnificent because it will take all of us to transcend the crises we face. We live in a time that no longer requires individual heroes; what the world needs now are communities heroic in character. We need communities that manifest Grace, Beauty, Love, and Truth. We need communities in which all members contribute their voices in generous and compassionate ways so that justice and equality become realities for each and all alike, not just for a select few, and not by a select few who think they know what is best for everyone. Everyone must be a part of the conversation, and not everyone will feel welcome to join the conversation until our connections are genuine and sincere.
So, what does this mean for our work in the world? All of us are on a path that, in some part, is driven by this collective superhero complex, but that doesn’t have to be the case any longer. Even just switching our mindset from that of being a savior to being a contributor to something greater than ourselves will have dramatic effects on our work in the world—this does not mean that we have to change anything we are “doing” necessarily, rather it is an internal adjustment in how we are “being” in the world. Such a shift in mindset and demeanor will assist us in recognizing how our contributions fit in the larger picture; what’s more, such a shift will assist us in recognizing how the contributions of other fit as well. You see, once we recognize that both our individual development and the development of our communities are inextricably linked together through our service in the world, we will come to appreciate how a community is supported by each and every individual and, in turn, our capacity to be genuinely interested in each and every person will become a natural and effortless new habit, a habit that weaves a new pattern of life for us all.
So with all we are collectively facing today, let us strive, not to save the world as individuals with a glorious destiny, but as individuals who are a part of something bigger than ourselves—part of a collective destiny, part of heroic communities.
With love,
