Listening to “The Thrilling New Science of Awe,” an On Being interview, I heard a phrase that perfectly conveyed one profound aspect of why I love my work so much. Moral Beauty.
In the interview, researcher Dacher Keltner revealed the most common way people around the world experience a sense of awe. It’s not the splendors of this beautiful Earth, as I had assumed. What’s most awe-inspiring is “an experience of other people’s courage, kindness, strength, or overcoming” – what the researchers call “moral beauty.”
In these times of such widespread moral injury and discouragement, I am immeasurably moved every day by other people’s courage, kindness, strength, and overcoming.
Ceremony creates a container and conduit for moral beauty. The same is true for the kind of intimate conversation and community collaboration I’m privileged to support.
“We can guarantee the world is going to be dark and troubled for the near future… but the practices of keeping the heart open give us paths of meaning amidst the darkness and confusion.”
Michael Meade, “Grief is an Ocean“
The clients I work with, in their deep grief, and the open-hearted learners in my Befriending Mortality classes, support me, too, in this work of keeping hearts open amidst darkness and confusion.
“I believe the future of our world depends greatly on the manner in which we handle our grief.”
Sobonfu Somé
I’m also bolstered by glimpses of the many good people keeping their shoulder to the wheel of caring for others and caring for the world. To keeping our hearts open and hands in service as the world burns and churns and is remade. To staying connected to all the gifts of our brief mortal lives.