Episode 282 - Standing at the River of Sorrow

On this episode, Michael Meade laments the agonizing loss of 19 innocent children’s lives in the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. The shocking report of at least 12 more mass shootings during the long weekend that followed reveals a growing flood of needless deaths that signal, not just a loss of innocence, but an increasing loss of the value of life itself.   Sadly and tragically, those who manufacture, market and use politics to sell guns intended for war are part of a deadly cultural script that predicts an ongoing funeral march. And behind that script is a growing nihilism, as if the automatic weapons are shooting darkness from a void of inner emptiness that masquerades as power. Sensible gun laws are needed to stop the flood of killings; but also as a way to begin restoring a collective sense of the meaning and the value of each individual life.   Each mass shooting broadens and deepens the river of sorrow. Each mass casualty event marks a tragic turning point in which we either choose to continue the collective funeral march or take steps to substantiate a greater sense of the meaning of life. The only meaningful outcome of all the needless deaths and tragic loss of life can be that we find our way back to a deeper sense of compassion, to a more inclusive sense of humanity and to a greater sense of the meaning and value of the gift of life.   Thank you for listening to and supporting Living Myth. You can hear Michael Meade live by joining his new online workshop “Myth and Emergent Truth” on Saturday, June 11.   Register and learn more at mosaicvoices.org/events.     You can save 30% on this workshop and further support the podcast by becoming a member of Living Myth Premium. Members receive bonus episodes each month, access to the full archives of over 415 episodes and 30% discount on all events, courses and book and audio titles.   Learn more and join this community of listeners at patreon.com/livingmyth.   As always, we appreciate you leaving a review on wherever you listen to this podcast and sharing it with your friends. On behalf of Michael Meade and the whole Mosaic staff, we wish you well during these challenging and uncertain times and we thank you for your support of our work.