by Pat o`Neal

I have been letting go of outrage, bottled up for years. A child’s sense of justice is very strong while retaining innocence. The justice and the outrage of youth are those of the pure of heart. I would more surely trust the justice of the young, before cultural habituation and the development of a cast iron ego have stolen the soul’s justice, piece by piece, and turned it into a petty instrument of politics.

Every one of us holds that outrage within us, suppressed and denied. Now I begin to get glimmerings of the Dalai Lama’s speaking on compassion:


“True compassion is not just an emotional response, but a firm commitment founded on reason. Therefore, a truly compassionate attitude toward others does not change, even if they behave negatively. Through universal altruism, you develop a feeling of responsibility for others: the wish to help them actively overcome their problems.”

No more “oh, gee” or “ain’t it awful” when observing injustice. No more Hallmark Card™ sympathy. No more cramming the prisons ever more full. And no more motivation out of personal tragedy. Only unconditional and impersonal compassion and love fit His Holiness’ definition.

The child learns to stifle outrage at injustice, to sulk and resent and lie, because the response from those more powerful, yet still in denial, can be brutality toward the child, emotional and physical. I have been reacting this way, as a child in this regard, for decades. Now I must learn to have a child’s sense of outrage at injustice, yet direct it in an adult and intelligent manner, with a saint's love and compassion. Piece of cake!

Great Spirit, I give my life over to you.