Yesterday saw a primary election here in Connecticut. I went to vote about 6:30 p.m. and found the polls all but empty; the newspaper later confirmed that fewer than one in three voters had exercised their right to vote. After I marked my ballot, I was given a little sticker to wear that said, "I voted today."
As I left the polls, I felt an interesting mix of emotions. There was something rather like pride, or patriotism, and certainly also gratitude. I am grateful that I live in a country free enough to hold such elections. I can grouse with the best of them about the problems in this country, especially what seems to be the growing power of what President Eisenhower once called "the military-industrial complex," plus all the factors that have contributed to the degradation of our wondrous biosphere. But grateful, yes! God bless America!
I think of the song most Americans probably learned as children: "My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. . . ." And the feeling, the insight grows deeper. "My country" -- my home -- the place of security and safety, warmth, nourishment, peace. My Home -- the place beyond all place, beyond time and space -- the infinite, cosmic embrace of Father-Mother God.
"Sweet land of liberty" -- liberty to, yes, and also liberty from. From what? Liberty from the tyranny of the ego-mind, liberty from the many mesmeric aspects of our society and the world of "maya." Liberty from doubt and fear; liberty to live in harmony with the Divine. Liberty from thinking the world picture is all there is; liberty to celebrate the realization that God IS All.
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