Graffiti Wisdom: You’ll see…

Karma: [kahr-muh] – noun

• Hinduism, Buddhism . action, seen as bringing upon oneself inevitable results, good or bad, either in this life or in a reincarnation (Dictionary.com)
• Christian Religious Writings/Theology . the doctrine of inevitable consequence (thefreedictionary.com)

How many times has someone else’s actions conjure threats against them of karmic magnitude?’

The philosophy of ‘what goes around, comes around” is attractive no matter to which religion you adhere. Even if you’re not particularly spiritual, the idea of cosmic retribution or restitution can be very satisfying.

You’ll see…

Just wait until you have a baby, child, teenager of your own! (I have called my mother so many times to apologize for my teenage angst-induced behavior. It has not repaired my parental karma.)

There is always that one asshat weaving through traffic like it’s his own personal slalom course, stopping only inches short of crawling up your tail pipe. Adding to his charm, he flashes his bright lights all the while, demanding you give way to his temper tantrum. Vengeance is sweet when a few miles down the road the popo have pulled him to the shoulder for the daily blue light special. (A friendly little wave or supportive ‘thumbs up’ is perfectly acceptable. Blowing kisses may be a tab over the top and provoke your own karma backfire.)

You’re standing in line at grocery store check out, cart overflowing with what should be two-weeks worth of food and you’ll be lucky if you make it until the weekend. Behind you steps up a harried mother with a crying baby and a whining toddler. She has just over the maximum allowed for the short line. You’ve had a craptastic day and all you want is to get home, kick off your shoes and release the Sisters. Yet, you turn, and in your most sympathetic tone offer your spot to the mom – “you just have a few things, I’m in no hurry, you go ahead.” The relief on her face is enough to melt your cold, cold heart. (Not a week later, you’re in the same check out line clutching a bottle of aspirin while the migraine from hell clutches your brain. The person in front of you, with the overflowing cart of groceries, returns your favor. The relief you feel almost brings on tears.)

I’m not an overly religious person, but I do believe that ‘you reap what you sow.’ That if you’re a good person, you try to be considerate and compassionate, that you’ll get that in return. You’ll be paid with kindness for kindness. If you don’t, it’s not that you’re doing something wrong, it’s the other person. Their nasti-tude will come back on them.

What I don’t believe, can’t allow myself to believe, is that what I do or don’t do is repaid through my children. But the guilt is always there. That somehow any serious problem that visits my child is somehow my fault. That the finger of God has come down and touched them, punishing them for what ever sin I imagine is great enough to warrant that kind of vengeance. Part of my crisis of faith is my struggle with contrary teachings that tell of both a loving, merciful God and a vengeful, malevolent God. But, I’ll leave that for another time…

Karma, Kismet, fate, divine intervention… whatever you want to call it, I think it’s real, on some level. It may not  be as gratifying as the butt-head motorist getting pulled over for speeding, or as mundane as being offered to jump ahead in a check-out line, but I do believe you get out of life, what you put into it.

We all need a little tenderness… you’ll see… life can be good.