Today's meditation was written by Cathy Self, Senior Vice-President for the Baptist Healing Trust.

"Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your mind." – Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882).

     In an earlier post, Erie Chapman noted the wisdom in these words: "If we do the right thing, we don't have to justify our actions to anyone else." That statement reminded me of an essay written by author Dr. Wayne Dyer on the idea of self-reliance as reflected in the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson quoted above and preceded with these thoughts: "Society is a joint-stock company in which the members agree, for the better securing of his bread to each shareholder, to surrender the liberty and culture of the eater. The virtue in most requests is conformity. Self-reliance is its aversion. It loves not realities and creators, but names and customs."

     Dyer notes it is possible to find some obscure law or rule or societal tradition to justify virtually anything. In fact when considering many of the wrongs that have been perpetrated on humanity, suggests Dyer, they have virtually all been accomplished under the protective custody of society's laws. He points to the murder of Socrates because the law said it would be proper to do so, and to the death of St. Joan of Arc directly tied to the law. It was once law that women could not vote and African-Americans could not sit at the front of the bus. It seems that laws and rules of society may not be a reasonable place to justify one's actions.

    Perhaps there is a better way, albeit a way that demands courage. Dyer goes on to say "Aspiring to be a more sacred being means shedding your reliance on conformity." He echoes the words of Emerson who wrote "I am ashamed to think how easily we capitulate to badges and names, to large societies and dead institutions." He spoke openly of the long-held but immoral institution of slavery which was protected by law (and still exists today though not visible to most of us): "I ought to go upright and vital, and speak the rude truth in all ways. If malice and vanity wear the cost of philanthropy, shall that pass?"

     Dyer found ways to quietly practice non-conformity; without need of public pronouncements, outbursts, or fighting, he sought ways to courageously live in truth. He asserts if we know it is right, it will be in harmony with spiritual principles. His challenge is to consider a shift from acting in response to outward rules to a consideration of personal, inner integrity. Dyer's challenge is that we not "let the voices within you grow faint and inaudible in favor of that societal conspiracy." St. Paul made the same appeal to his readers in the Corinthian church who had buckled under the pressure of societal conformity: "Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly" (1 Cor 13:13, The Message). It seems truth finds its way across time. Do what you do because it is right and it fits with your spiritual truths.

     Today there are caregivers everywhere buckling under the pressure of societal conspiracy to cut costs at the expense of quality care, to be efficient at the expense of effectiveness, to be professional at the expense of being loving. It will take courage to stand, with Love, to be the presence that says this is the better way. We can find our way to both with truth and in the light of Love if we are willing to courageous, and extravanganly, Love. We can be the voice of Love, and that is the greatest and most courageous justification of all.