How can we change the world?  Can change be forced?  It seems like we approach change all to often in that manner.  It may seem to work for the short term in some situations, but I think it is an illusion.  I think the repercussions of force, as a means of change, are not always observable immediately.  I can not force you to change.  Creating a situation where someone will do something they do not want to do under duress, is not the same thing as change.  Real change, in my opinion, begins deep down in the heart of a person.  The most powerful motivator/energizer of change is the passionate, deep desire to add to the love and healing in the world.  It is a heart of service, not selfishness that activates in us our greatest strengths.

Our knowledge of what's going on in the world has expanded.  From that vantage point, does our world seemed screwed up? Yes.  Does it often feel overwhelming? Yes.  Does it feel out of control?  Oh yeah.  What do I have control over?  What is my responsibility?  Can I begin to honestly recognize the cause & symptoms of "evil"/darkness are not only "out there", but they are also in me?  Can I muster the courage to change those things I am responsible for?  Can I change my attitudes?  Can I change my actions?  Can I love the intolerance, greed, lust, hate, and unforgiveness out of me?  

How can I hope to help others unless I am also doing the work to heal the dark, sorrow-filled places in myself? This past week I read, "People of the Lie" by Scott Peck.  It is an old book, but it has great insight into the nature of what he chooses to label"evil".  If you are interested in growing in consciousness and love, I think it's a worthwhile read.  In the book, he talks about the biblical admonition "Judge not lest ye not be judged" and added that often people take it out of context.  The context tells me to work on getting the obstruction out of my own eye so I can see clearly, before I try to remove one from someone else's eye.  It makes sense.  Judgments are to be made with great caution and only after much self-purification.  "Physician heal thyself."  I don't know where that saying came from, but I do understand it's meaning.  I do not think it means that I can not help another until I am totally healed. If we had to wait until we were all pure, there wouldn't be much helping going on.   On the contrary, I think my attempts to help others (even if slightly misguided at times) has had positive results.  A beautiful side effect of lovingly helping others is ,as I give, I grow in love.  I think that is how we heal; love more.  I think love is the whole answer; it is an answer with an infinite number of solutions.

Getting back to the title of expanding heart; there are many levels to that expansion, self, family, global community, universe and beyond.  Sometimes, it seems way too big and complex for my mind to wrap around.  So, I break it down to the smallest component; that's me.  When I want to react, panic, fear, be offended, hate, seek revenge, give up, or abandon hope, in that instant, I must remind myself, it is my choice.  I will train myself.  Love, not hate.  Bless, not curse. 

The largeness of the situation, the "overwhelm" is like a giant smoke screen that confuses us so we don't deal with the only place we have the power to create true change, in ourselves.  Whatever area of life I want to change, I bring to mind how simple it can be; expanding heart, on all levels, begins with the decision of a single soul to LOVE.