I Believe

I believe that babies are born into the world as perfect humans. They don't break laws, they don't do drugs, they don't abuse others, they have the capacity to love unconditionally. They never say mean things to others; they don't steal; they respect people's personal space; they don't care who you want to love, how you want to dress, or what color your skin is. There is something already born inside them that makes them want to grow, stay healthy, continue to love their loved ones, and be good humans. We are all born that way—every single one of us on this whole planet.

Then society afflicts us. Layers and layers of conditioning get wrapped around us before we realize what is happening. We learn about unfairness toward others; we understand that there are people groups we are supposed to hate, even though we know nothing about them. We are encouraged to form opinions, judge people, and decide whether what they are doing is right or wrong, even when we have no reason to. Even when we “don't have a dog in that race”. The layers keep piling up around our sweet little hearts from the existing noise and clutter of years and years of hate and judgment established before we even got here.

I believe this concept is not foreign to us. I think that it would be, or should be, a challenge for anyone to disagree with this basic concept of humanity.

How about this. Have you ever been to a place where the people seem very different from you? Maybe they are very wealthy and have nicer things than you knew existed, or perhaps they have darker skin than you, or they wear traditional clothing that makes them comfortable and reaffirms their faith to themselves. Maybe the music they like isn't pleasant to your ears, or the way they wear their hair doesn't make sense to you. Have you ever then had a moment of realization that they are all fundamentally the same as you? Were they not also born as an innocent baby who was law-abiding, loving, and yearned to grow healthy and contribute to the world?

Or let’s try this on. It is a fact that the homeless lady huddled down on the sidewalk, freezing from a cold night outside and clutching to her little toddler, loves that child the same way you love yours. Perhaps that lady made some decisions in her life that got her to that point. Maybe she has a mental health problem that makes it harder for her to fit in to the societal structure that we have arbitrarily set up against her, and it could be that she has had to take drastic measures to cope and survive in her situation, measures we could personally say we would never “stoop” to.

But when she looks up at you, can you see yourself in her eyes? Can you relate to her yearning for a safe, comfortable place where she can be assured that her child will be fed, warm, and given the chance to be happy?

Can you see that we are all actually the same? We all want the same thing in our lives, no matter how different we are. No matter how many layers of societal judgments, norms, and traditions have been piled on top of us, only to work against us. We were all born the same, and we all want the same things.

Well, except for all the other things that we are told to want. I mean, if we are completely honest with ourselves, do we really want fine china dishware, a car that can go to 100 miles an hour in 3 seconds, do we really want to be the reason one person is not allowed to express love for another, or to hang out with their buddies who share a common interest in learning about spirituality? Do we want to be the reason people can't just be themselves? Just because we are told by our parents, our friends' parents, or our political leaders what we should want, does that mean we have to want it too?

So what happened? How have we become so disconnected from the way we were born into this world?

Did we even choose this?

Did you?

Do you want to have opinions about things that don't apply to you?

Questions like these and the answers you give can tell a lot about us. The answers for most of us are no. If that is not the answer you came up with, have a look at that. Who made that decision? Was it you, or did someone make it for you?

What layers got piled on top of your heart that made you form opinions about things that you probably don't even care about? Did you put those layers there? Whether it was you or someone else, is it possible to stop adding more or better yet, start peeling them away?

Here is where it gets beautiful. I bet you can peel off those layers, and once you start, you will realize everyone else has layers to peel off, too. Layers that they may never have put there. Layers that got piled on their hearts by parents, society, and policymakers.

But, just because those other people haven't started peeling off their layers, is it possible you can still see below them? Or could you peel back some of those layers for them by removing some of the judgments we may have formed against them? Could you still recognize in them that core where the layers stop - their sweet little heart? That heart that is just like yours and mine.

We all want the world to be a better place, all of us. But how can we realistically change the world? It is so vast, and we are so small. That's a lot of pressure.

One of the keys to my happiness is realizing that I can't. I can't change the whole world. I would love to think I can, but this mid-life human would have a lot of catching up to do, and I don't think I've got it in me.

But I do have this in me - I can change my outlook. I can change how I view things by questioning how I got those views in the first place. And then I can make the concerted effort to peel the layers away. When they start peeling away, I will notice that the successive layers peel off much more easily. I can give myself, and more importantly, others, the grace to do it on our own time. But I can do it, and I have faith that others can too. I believe others can recognize in themselves that their true hearts want these layers removed so they can be happy and free to do what they want. I believe that humanity can, and will realize that all of the injustices, hatred, and pain inflicted does not have to be.

I believe that you were born into the world as a perfect human. I believe that you are not perfect, but you can start to peel back those layers that others put on you. I believe that there is something already born inside you that makes you want to grow, be healthy, continue to love your loved ones and to be good humans. We are all born that way. Every single one of us on this whole planet.

Just because I may not have it in me to change the world, doesn't mean you can't.

Change the world, I dare you. Change the world by peeling back your layers, those layers that you didn't pile on yourself.

Change the world by helping others peel back their layers, either themselves, or through the way you view them.

They didn't put them their either.

That would change the world.

-Chris Simpson