Reflections on Elections

The elections can change your life forever, so, it is more than important to take the right choice. It is imperative make the right election. The consequences will last for years. The point is, how do you know which is the right decision? You may pray. You may ask a soothsayer. Ask a diviner. And then... are you certain of having the right answer? By sure, we do need the right answer.

Election is quite a delicate word. Curiously enough, in most present day English, it has been reduced to its political meaning only. Politicians have made it their own. Such narrowing of the import of the word, is like using a jet to run on the freeway instead of flying. What election means goes way far beyond the political context. Election comes from the Latin electionem, from stem of eligere "pick out, select." From ex "out" and ligere, legere "to choose, read." It means selecting, taking a decision among several different possibilities. Not necessarily political. A choice among any several possibilities. It is what we are doing most of the time, save that, most of the time we are not aware of doing it. Our conditioning does it for us. The consequences may also last for years.

There is a Zen saying, a tenth of an inch makes a difference. It may not be instantaneously obvious. It is similar to sailing a boat. If we err the route in a few degrees, we won't notice it at the beginning. But we won't reach the intended destination. We don't notice it soon because we are not aware of gradual changes. To those mindfully present, changes become obvious sooner. However it be, some of our daily decisions are determinative to our lives. Regardless of what country we live in, or who is the president or the prime minister who rules it. They are like seeds. Once planted, when the favorable conditions arrive, they will eventually sprout, grow as a plant and then give fruits. In some cases, our personal elections have more power on our lives than those who rule the country. And the way we live our lives changes the country, for better or worse. How we live is our personal election.

So, how to take the right choice, the right election. Praying? Consulting the oracle? A soothsayer? Why not consulting our intrinsic inner awareness? The inner light that always dispels darkness and knows the right choice, the right election. We must be very aware of our motivation. If our motivation is fear, and we make the choice out of the fear of committing a mistake, we will surely commit it. Fear belongs to darkness. It will attract more darkness. It attracts what is feared. Love belongs to light. It will attract light. It will bring clarity to our minds and hearts. After all, whether we abide in love or in fear, and bring about light or darkness… is a personal election!

May the blessings of light be upon you,
Light without and light within.
And in all your comings and goings,
May you ever have a kindly greeting
From them you meet along the road.
Irish blessing