Hope for the Future, Hope for the Present

A sapling is not an imperfect tree; it is a perfect sapling. So it is with the world - always the same, always different. In one of the Soctratic dialogues, one of the interlocutors says to Socrates: "you can't step in the same river twice!" to which Socrates responds, "indeed! nor can you step in the same river ONCE!". The world is in a constant state of flux. As such, what basis do we have by which to deem anything an 'improvement'? That anything is less than the perfect expression of that which it is is entirely a matter of ego. That something is a problem rather than an opportunity is simply a matter of perspective - and yet, in either case, it is both and neither! It is what it is, nothing more, nothing less.
We view cancer as being problematic. The complementary view to that perspective is that it is completely opportunistic. If we think in terms of spiritual growth, and not simply prolonged existence, the whole context is transformed.
And there are countless views which fall in between these two extremes.
One might view a cancer patient with distain and resentment for not taking good care of their health.
One might view them with pity for being too ignorant to properly care for themselves.
One might look at them with despair, and anger for the potential loss of closeness or loss of life that their disease represents.
On the other hand someone might view them with sympathy and try to offer support.
One might view them with compassion and offer them an ear to talk to, or a heart to confide in.
One could even view them as an inspiration, and work to improve one's own life in honour of the struggles of the cancer patient.
One might even simply view the patient as a reflection or extension of oneself...
There's really no right way to view it. Cancer is what it is...neither a problem nor an opportunity, and simultaneously both.

In terms of illuminating people with hope for the future, we must understand that it is we who are the saplings. None of us is an imperfect tree. The struggles that we see are the perfect consequence of that which we are.
A tree could not be tall without a world for it to be tall in, nor can a problem be a problem without someone to perceive it as such. The mere fact that there is an increasing tendency to identify problems and issues in the world is a sign of what we have become.
When the world is not concerned with integrity, these things all go unnoticed. To the unevolved soul, theft is not problematic, it is simply statistical.
Fortunately the world is evolving. Theft is viewed as a problem. The danger is simply that we may begin to lose hope as more and more corruption and greed and pride is identified in the world. We must remember that things are not in fact becoming worse; it is simply that we are becoming more aware of the extent to which things can be improved!

Fortunately, this growth is ongoing. Everything is the perfect expression of that which it is. As things are perfect the way they are now (with growing awareness and compassion) so shall they be perfect in the future (when the perfection of the present is fully illuminated), since what is perfect cannot become imperfect (for that would be an imperfection).

Now, some may dismiss these ideas, citing that believing that everything is perfect, even when we do not see it as such, is not advantageous to anyone in the slightest. It should be noted however, that in alignment with the unseen perfection of the Allness of Creation, one facillitates the growth that one would like to see. It is the resistant states of perfection which such objectors object to! so they would do well to refrain from objecting - "be the change" as Gandhi said.

There is hope!

-Rob

"The universe is uncaused, like a net of jewels in which each is only the reflection of all the others in a fantastic interrelated harmony without end." -Ramesh S. Balsekar