Feed the Good Within, Release the Babylon

Scripture

Daniel 1:8-17

But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the royal rations of food and wine; so he asked the palace master to allow him not to defile himself. Now God allowed Daniel to receive favor and compassion from the palace master. The palace master said to Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king; he has appointed your food and your drink. If he should see you in poorer condition than the other young men of your own age, you would endanger my head with the king.” Then Daniel asked the guard whom the palace master had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: “Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. You can then compare our appearance with the appearance of the young men who eat the royal rations, and deal with your servants according to what you observe.” So he agreed to this proposal and tested them for ten days. At the end of ten days it was observed that they appeared better and fatter than all the young men who had been eating the royal rations. So the guard continued to withdraw their royal rations and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. To these four young men God gave knowledge and skill in every aspect of literature and wisdom; Daniel also had insight into all visions and dreams.

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Feed the Good Within, Release the Babylon

by Rev. Cory Bradford-Watts

Read the message below. Video premieres today at 8 pm EDT, click here to watch on YouTube

Today, like with Daniel, we can find ourselves trapped in many different types of Babylon: within religious bigotry, political demagoguery, or familial and personal oppression. And yes - we often find ourselves both taking part in an aspect of these as well as subject to their whims due to external pressure. It’s tough, because we each can feel somewhat set upon and oppressed while also being a source of oppression for both ourselves and others. The symbolic sense of the first chapter of Daniel speaks to how it’s important to acknowledge that both are true (since as a parable we are invited to internalize both Babylon and Daniel in our reflection), but also that we can start to feed the Daniel within “new food” and work toward the changes that will eventually transform our lives, community, and world toward freedom, compassion, and the diversity of cultural and spiritual health.

But what kind of new food would help us fight against the forces of oppression? We’re told that the imprisoned Israelite Daniel rejects the Babylonian royal rations of food and wine, instead asking for vegetables and water. Hearing this I can’t but jump to the idea that the food of the oppressor is often just that: an oppressive mentality centered on selfishness and the idea that we are separated from others, which leads to anger, judgment, hoarding of resources, and divisiveness. Vegetables and water, on the other hand, seem to speak toward spiritual and emotional health: centering on compassion, patience, and our communal oneness even in our diversity.

In order to start feeding the Daniel within “vegetables and water,” we might have to work on our meditative practices, our sense of compassion and interconnectedness, and start letting go of hurtful and divisive habits (like believing that all other faiths condemn their adherents to hell). Thus, self-reflection and self-awareness are at the heart of letting go of self – funny enough! But, so is an effort to let go of our selfish reflections through meditative moments, forgiveness, and a growing since of our oneness with others, our environment, and ultimately, Divinity.

And, in a way, working to further overcome oppression and hurt within a larger community starts within ourselves, since we can’t move from tyranny as a communal body if we still center on aspects of its behavior. Despite its necessity, I think that this idea can be hard when we put it in the perspective of the oppressed, such as saying, “the oppressed must forgive their oppressors,” and “the downtrodden must uplift the tyrannical.” Of course, this becomes easier when we remember that to “uplift” involves uplifting healthy motives, forgiveness, and compassionate care – which is what we often ask of our oppressors!

It’s also good to be patient with ourselves and others. We see in the story of Daniel how feeding the good empowers it and helps it rise, but that doesn’t mean that our Babylonian impulses immediately dissipate. Indeed, you’re probably aware that there are a few more interesting beats to Daniel’s story down the line! And so, if we’re honest with ourselves, we should acknowledge that we as individuals and as a society don’t change with the drop of a hat. That unfortunately, we often can’t just quit our addictions and hurtful attachments through a day’s effort. And that to the extent we are dedicated to loving and viewing others and our environment as one with us, we have to be willing to accept an equally vast, peaceful patience.

This doesn’t mean that we let go of our calls for social and communal growth and justice, though! Indeed, I think we’re called to lean into our own radical changes of conduct for any hope of others’ transformation. Like Daniel in Babylon, we might find that we become a catalyst, and enigmatic enzyme within our culture, that may not always bring everyone to the light of compassionate living, but serves to empower clarity where it can come and love where it can bloom.

I see that in your individual lights and in our cultures, interestingly enough. There’s a trend (if I can call it that) within society where we each have a platform and can uplift healthy, creative ideas in so many beautiful ways. God(dess) is working through people in such an amplified, cosmic way it can be astounding. But for us to protect these freedoms, our positive impact, and our world, we have to take it further and get serious about letting go of our Babylonian rations and turn toward health more actively.

Again, this doesn’t mean beating ourselves up about our bad habits, mistakes, or even just for existing awkwardly (as I know I can easily do to myself). But instead, taking a more and more compassionate and clear approach toward our own lives, while also becoming aware of how often we can unfortunately center on the tools of oppression to fight oppression.

When we think about our spirits and minds this issue becomes even more clear, as we become aware that the oppressive nature within is exactly these tools and modes of dominating reactivity (judgment, divisiveness, fear, hate, dismissiveness, distractedness, and a lack of compassion). These are both the nourishment and the embodiment of our personal Babylon’s, and what we tend to convey toward others and judge them for (i.e. we become and only see what we eat). Unsurprisingly, I think we’ll find that we have to return to our deep knowledge of our Source (God, Allah, Consciousness, and Being) in order to find a full fruition and connection with the opposite of the mire of Babylon: the Transcendence of Awareness, Love and Wisdom, our true spiritual food.

There’s a story that my wonderful partner, Alyssa, often refers to, “the Tale of Two Wolves,” attributed to the Cherokee nation. Within it a boy tells his grandfather, “A terrible fight is going on inside of me between two wolves. An evil one, full of anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. And a good one, full of joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. Which wolf will win, grandfather?” To which he replied, “The one you feed.”

Amen.

Peace and blessings to you,

Rev. Cory