This week’s spiritual wisdom comes from Jonathan Granoff, an author, attorney, and international peace activist who recently wrote a piece about the elimination of nuclear weapons for Tikkun:

When the words “We hold these truths to be self evident…” [were written], who could have imagined that the equality of all people to determine their political destiny would become a global norm?

It is not obvious that we are created equal. I am short. My wife is beautiful. Mark is smarter than me. But in the eyes of the great mystery from which our lives arise and which lies on the border of our time here, we are of equal value and thus equal authority in governing ourselves.

Before this insight was planted in historical affairs, authority came from a divine narrative, class, birth, or any number of obfuscations of who is better than whom. This brilliant insight into the true value of every being opened political space for self governance.

We celebrate the freedom and wealth that this insight has given. We mourn where that wealth and power have been abused … native peoples killed, wars waged through fear and lies, nuclear weapons remaining on the ready, environmental irresponsibility garbed as freedom of commerce. We celebrate where this insight has created room for the collective wisdom of humanity to grow, where democracy flourishes, where freedom to believe, pray, think, speak, sing, and pursue happiness thrive and expand. Let that Mystery that grants us souls of precious value continue to bless America and bless the world wherein truth and now the self evident reality that we must all live together or perish together must take hold.

– Jonathan Granoff (text written for Tikkun Daily)