Talking about setting-up . . . I’m really beginning to see just how we are constantly setting ourselves up. With every passing day, especially out here on the road away from a “protected” environment, it becomes increasingly apparent that we (not just me on this journey) place ourselves in front of people, we go to places and orchestrate events and manipulate time - all for our personal growth. And I really think that growth has to do with maneuvering through a lifetime minefield (mind field) of judgements, hopefully dropping them one by one, until . . .
When I was in the awareness seminar business in the mid-80’s we talked a lot about judgments, and the fact that we are all “judgment machines.” No doubt that politics is all about judgment, as is religion - education, competition, and anything that has to do with separation. We pretty much can’t help judging things right or wrong, good or bad, or even judge with indifference. I spent a lifetime arrogantly judging myself to be more spiritually advanced than my father. With Spiritual Ego I formed strong opinions about the military (he was an Army Colonel), war (He fought in WWII and the Korean War), religion (he was a devote Catholic), politics (he was Republican), marriage (he was married to the same woman for 66 years) and money (he was frugal). Because of my judgments and Spiritual Ego I create an opposing life - a draft dodger, anti-war pacifist, anything but Catholic or Republican, mostly single and broke.
This trip - this Ki Earth Journey I am on - is all about the return to innocence. That means starting all over. Sort of like a kid running out into the mine field and joyfully jumping on them one at a time. This time around the exposure and explosions (of my arrogance and spiritual pride) have all been gentle.
I mention all this only to write about a man I met the other day by the name of Mike. He is a friend of Karen’s, and although she has known him for over 30 years, he invited her (and I) to his house for her first time on Saturday. I have to mention right away that Mike is one of the richest men I’ve ever met. He’s my age, but his life story is so completely different than mine. Mike fell in love with and married his high school sweetheart Maureen. His family had no money and he started selling cars when he was young. Fortunately he was taken under the wings by a mentor, who taught him everything about selling cars. Today Mike owns 15 auto dealerships in Detroit, and last year sold more Chevy’s than any dealer in America.
This is not Mike. Actually he is not real. Just art.
So - this is exactly what I mean by setting up people, places, time and events for our personal growth. Mike is a Catholic, Republican and lives in a 15,000 sq.ft. house.
And he’s a sweetheart. As is his lovely wife Maureen. He is obvious still in love with her after something like 47 years, and she him. They raised four children, all of whom have executive positions in his auto empire. The 15,000 sq.ft. house (mansion) is in a sub-division with $250,000 homes on each site. They have lived there for 23 years and have expanded the original house for their family - raising their four kids their and now having plenty of room for the 14 grandchildren, which Maureen gushes over. Yes, they have lots of “stuff,” but that stuff represents their support of hundreds of artist and craftsmen. They employ two full time housekeepers. The house has the necessary room for social events, which a man of his stature is pretty much required to hold. They have two cars in their garage, and even though they own a Cadillac dealership, he rolls his eyes when Maureen says she wants a Bentley - or a lap pool. Their friends are the hillbilly mechanic and his wife - and people like Karen who cut his hair when she was 19. Mike and Maureen - mega-millionaires who are really just a couple of high school sweethearts, raising a family, going to work, providing a safe home, going to church, and maneuvering through their own lifetime minefield (mind field) of judgements, possibly, hopefully dropping them one by one, until . . .
Again - it’s just life, and we’re all doing the best we can. Yes, there are people who abuse power and wealth, there are also junkies and hookers - but they aren’t the people, places, times and events that call out to me. My journey of love and innocence is providing that mirror in unexpected ways - with examples like Mike and Maureen.
We went to an event at Mike’s Cadillac dealership. He showed me his personal pickup truck - a 1972 Chevy. All the other cars didn’t seem to matter to him. It was a classic car show with a dj and showgirls and rock music, and Mike was walking around like one of the crowd, (not like the owner of this dealership and 14 others) while Maureen was chasing after her grandchildren. Lots of love and innocence. Right here in Detroit, Michigan.
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