Slow: Sacred Purpose Nearby
I’ve just uncovered one of my sacred purposes. And it took me entirely by surprise.
I’ve been asking myself lately, we know you’re a writer and a steward of the Mother’s wealth. But what area of things are you most interested in?
In terms of building Nova Earth, what area would you most like to specialize in?
My training was not in journalism, not in radio. It was in History, Sociology, and Museology but I don’t work in those fields any more.
No, it isn’t any of those fields. Surprisingly I discover it’s in human-rights decision-making.
For eight years I was a human-rights decision-maker. (1)
Decision-making in a well-functioning democracy is an art form unto itself.
If one wants to see a master practitioner of that art form at work, watch any video showing Rep. Trey Gowdy questioning witnesses.
Even when I think of those days, I feel a swelling of pride and satisfaction at the work we did brokering the interests of the Canadian people with those of the refugee claimant, “getting it right,” etc.
Playing in this arena must obviously be part of my sacred purpose to excite such a response in me.
I don’t think I have the stamina these days to think of making decisions. Fifteen-hundred, often ten-page decisions is enough. But to report on human rights, yes.
What release and power there is in seeing what our sacred purpose is or purposes are.
I’ve been through this before. I’ve seen other aspects of my mission (or have been told about them), but I hear myself saying, offstage, on this one, “At last he’s realized what he’s here to do. Now we can get going.”
And, yes, it’s true. It’s tremendously empowering to admit to yourself that that thing that swells your heart with pride every time you touch on it is … your sacred purpose.
I burst into tears each time I say to myself the phrase at the end of every positive refugee decision: “… and I extend to you Canada’s protection.” Oops. There I go again.
Again, that has to be a sign of sacred purpose. Has to be.
Footnotes
(1) Member of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. Deciding refugee claims.