The emotional triad of fear, anger, and love were encoded in our genes long before we could ever think about them, let alone write about them. They must have been at the core of all of our legends when we first dreamed them up. Today they remain at the core of all of our creative and journalistic writings, where we still keep our legends. This reflects how important they are to us.

For years we have focused on fear and anger and their relevance to our survival. Indeed, the so-called "flight or fight" response relates directly to fear and anger, respectively… in fear one flees, in anger one fights. Both are essential for survival, so we speak of them together as "the survival response." Moreover, love is also essential for survival, because in its sexual form, it is the expression of a "drive" that leads to procreation and species survival.

Thus, the emotional triad have been with us and essential to us for countless centuries. They are strongly encoded in our DNA. But something must have gone awry, because while our animal friends spend hours at peace and moments in fear, anger, or love, we seem to have gotten it all wrong… we seem obsessed with spending hours in the violent applications of all three and we seem to spend but moments at peace.

Certainly you and I can point to people who do not have such obsessions, but please look at the media that publishes endless representations of the violence. They only do it because of its fascination for us. Ask yourself, "How did we get to this? What can we do about it?"

Your initial answer to both might be, "I don't know." If you don't know, how do you feel about the questions? Pause a moment, check in with yourself and find that feeling. Look in your head, your heart, and your gut for it. Put this down and take whatever time is necessary to find that feeling, and when you have found it, be present to it without judgment and pick this up. Take a moment now to give that feeling some physical characteristics such as size, shape, and color. Now shrink it and bleach out some of its the color. Leave it where it is for now. We will return to it in Part II.

I invite you now to travel back in time to that time when our minds and brains began to remember. Memory gave us the ability to maintain an inventory of events from the past... and to distort our view of the present with those images from the past. Ironically, this ability to remember is the power behind our ability to learn… to store knowledge. Of all of those images, the ones associated with pain create the most distortion. We created experience from those images… and we became able to create a fearful future from our painful past, in which the survival response began to react to our thoughts of what "might happen if." Now our genes took over and sent our bodies into convulsions of fear or anger. We could not have done this were it not for our memory and our ability to project in time.

When our agile minds project into the future, they create images… we use our imagination. The images we hold in our minds are real for us, even if they exist in the future. With our wonderful minds we bring these images back into the present where we turn thinking about them into acting on them. The action is a survival response reaction in which we make one of three choices: to actively flee, to passively defend ourselves behind physical walls or mental denial, or to follow the old line, "the best defense is a good offense" and take offensive action… we become aggressors reacting out of "justifiable" anger. All aggression takes place in present time, in the form of a projection in space. All projection needs a projectile that can be hurled at the threat. A projectile may be a glance, a posture, a word, a gesture or an object that can range from a rock to a hydrogen bomb… it does not matter which… they are all projectiles with lethal power.

Yes, all of our projections have lethal power. The degree to which we exercise that power depends on the degree to which we fear the object(s) of our thought. Thus all harmful thoughts and their associated actions are based on fear, the projection of thoughts into a time that does not exist… and they are proportional to the fear. The idea behind all of this is projection, "throwing forth." Throw forth a thought in time based on an unpleasant memory dredged up from the past. Throw forth an object in space to defend against that threatening image. In this way we give birth to all conflicts from arguments to wars. The gestation of all of our turmoil begins within as a response to what lies without, so let us look at what happens within under these stressful conditions.

Let us examine the chemical effects this projection business has on our bodies. There are two classes of hormonal substances released in our bodies in association with the survival response: catecholamines and adrenal cortical steroids. Adrenalin and nor-epinephrine represent the former and cortisol (which prednisone mimics) represents the latter.

Catecholamines stimulate the heart rate and tighten blood vessels. Adrenalin comes from the inner core of the adrenal gland in response to direct nerve impulses from the brain. Nor-epinephrine is found primarily in the brain and spinal cord, especially in the systems of nerves that are involved in the flight or fight response.

Cortisol comes from the outer covering of the adrenal gland in response to chemical messengers carried through the blood stream from the pituitary gland at the base of the brain. It suppresses the immune system. Catecholamines and cortisol are necessary for survival, but they are intended for occasional short term use. Ironically, when used for a long term, they turn on us and threaten our survival. We, by the fearful projections of our minds, are using these powerful chemicals more often and for longer periods of time. They are taking their toll in the rising incidences of several serious and fatal diseases in younger and younger people: heart attacks, cancer, and that fear-based corruption of anger called murder.

Consider that all of this is the consequence of the misuse of knowledge. Consider that the Creator gave us knowledge, knowing that we would misuse it to the point where it would threaten our very existence here on Earth, at which time we would discover how to use it appropriately and well. So, let that discovery time be now and let us change this sad thing immediately. Yes, we can do it. We can find a way to live in the present moment and stop this projection stuff. The way already exists, and we have known of it for thousands of years. We only have to choose to go that way, which is Love, I am happy to say. Love lives only in the present moment extending itself to everything and everybody in this one time… the only time there is. To be continued...

Click here to read Part II now!

Poet's Corner:          top
Poems and Writings by HOPEr's

HOPE Group News          top
StarLights Young People's HOPE Group Receives Grant from Libra Foundation
South Paris, ME: The StarLights Young People's HOPE Group that meets in South Paris on Sundays from 4 to 5:30 p.m. has received a grant from the Libra Foundation. Money from this grant will be used to help train others in the special work guide May Scott is doing with this group.

May Scott has been a pre-school teacher for nearly 20 years. She has an excellent rapport with young people. StarLights specializes in those from ages 6 to 16. May is especially interested in working with siblings (and entire families when that is appropriate).

StarLights focuses on the recognition of the part each family member plays in crisis issues, helping the development of problem solving skills, and providing practice in relaxation techniques. May also teaches the healing touch techniques of Jin Shin Jyutsu as a safe touch method family members can use on each other. If you or someone you know is interested in receiving training through this grant to start a Young People's HOPE Group in your area, please let us know.

A Mission to Ecuador          top
Eastport, ME: HOPE Group guide Scott Withers, PA, spent Feb. 20 through March 8 of this year in Loja, Ecuador with the Hancock County Medical Mission. They joined a team of doctors, surgeons, medical students, nurses, PAs, teachers, and interpreters (including students from George Stevens Academy in Blue Hill, Maine!) from all over the United States and Canada. Their mission was to provide medical and surgical services for the hundreds of Ecuadorian people who lined up for hours to receive these services. Here are some excerpts from Scott's journal (slightly edited because of the limited space):

Feb 20: Arrived in Bogata about 8:30 p.m. stopped at a deli to get Colombian cappuccino, but none of us spoke Spanish. It was sort of like a south-of-the-border version of Keystone Cops. We were gesturing and pointing at the sign... Finally we got everything worked out and I found out that Columbian cappuccino (if this was a real example) wasn't anything special.

Feb 21: Arrived at Loja on an Ecuadorian Military Hercules. Nice motel, clean and neat, I thought at first, but there is no hot water, no toilet seat, no TP, (luckily I brought my own). I'm sharing a room with six other guys, but three of them will be leaving tomorrow to go into the jungle. The scenery around our motel is breathtaking. We are surrounded by green and lush mountains. Right now the climate is terrific. There is a pool at the motel, at first I didn't notice the dead bugs floating in it. Eventually I realized that much of the motel is like that-superficially neat and clean-just don't look too closely at the details!

Feb 22: Today was the first day of work. As predicted there were lots of people waiting when we got to the clinic. We took the first hour just setting things up then we started seeing patients nonstop until 6 p.m. I took a 20 minute lunch break, but was steadily seeing patients the rest of the day. My interpreter is an Ecuadorian woman, she can talk with the patients quite well, but I had a really hard time understanding her! The patients were always appreciative and thankful. One of the things that surprised me a lot was the number of people who arrived with copies of recent lab tests, X-rays, or (in one incidence) a CT scan. Some would say that they wanted a second opinion but others would admit that they just didn't trust the Ecuadorian doctors. That really is a shame!.

Feb 23: I had a very busy and productive day. I saw 28 patients, most with multiple medical problems.

Feb 24: I can't get over how grateful these people are. One of our interpreters is staying with a family in downtown Catamayo. When he got to the motel for breakfast he told us that the line at the hospital door was forming at 3 a.m. Today I saw a family of 3 and the boy fell asleep on the exam table while I was talking with the mother. She explained that he had been up since 4 a.m.; I didn't see them until 3 p.m. and they didn't complain at all about the long wait. They were only grateful for our help. 99% of the people come in wearing their best clothes and on their best behavior. I'm starting to have second thoughts about what I'm doing here... We come here and all the people flock to see us because we're from the USA-the local docs learn to hate us (I assume) because their patients prefer us to them, their patients trust us (who they don't know) more than their own Docs who have helped and supported them throughout the years. And the local docs don't learn anything from us because we don't interact with them... Every day we are being transported from motel to hospital by large commercial buses. They all have radios and TV/VCRs built in. It rained only a little during the day but I guess that the daily rain had accumulated. On the way home the bus driver tried to take a shortcut across the flat field and almost got stuck in the mud-that should have been our warning. As we got closer to "home" the mud got deeper and we seemed to go slower. Finally, fortunately only about a block away from "home," the bus made a corner, slowed to a crawl due to the corner and the mud and the rear end slipped off the road and started down the roadside hill. I held my breath and then started praying but I guess the driver had some experience because he just shut off the engine and we walked to the motel.

Feb 25: Vegetarian Rebellion: There are a fair number of vegetarians here... I kept asking if we could get vegetarian meals and only got weak excuses. I even offered to cook! So finally, I just made a sign in both English and Spanish "Reserved for Vegetarians" and taped it to one of the dining room tables. The next day we had 7 people at the table and the kitchen served us food without meat! ...Yesterday I saw 22 people all day and today I saw 19 by lunch. But I had difficult afternoon patients and only totaled 27 for the day.

March 1: There are about 500 people in line outside the hospital. I'm sure we won't be able to see them all. This morning somebody told me that a lot of the local people prayed and fasted for a month to make sure that we would come here and arrive safely. And now we won't even be able to see them all.

March 4: Today is our last day at the clinic and I am grateful. I'm not sure how much more sadness I can stand. It is pervasive. Perhaps that is why God told me to take this trip - so that I would fully understand the depth of sadness and also the ability of people to survive in spite of the difficulties.

March 6: Last night we went to a professional soccer game between the winner of the Ecuadorian and Bolivian leagues. Ecuador won 3-1.

March 8: Home. During this time I've had a million new experiences and met a thousand wonderful people. I've done things that I never thought I'd even consider doing. I've been places that I never even knew existed and met poor people, wealthy people, and famous people. I've sampled foods that are alien to North America and eaten strange ripe fruit off the vine. I've done so many new things that I can't even write an all inclusive summary paragraph. If I had to sum it all up in a a few words I'd have to say that God's work can be very sad.

HOPEr's Stories          top
First in a series of articles by you--the HOPE Participants

Ralph 'n Chazz 'n Me
by Bob Snowman
South Paris HOPE Group

As a member of HOPE's home chapter and a survivor of four bouts with cancer, some of my experiences and attitudes today may be interesting.

I regard cancer as the best thing to have happened to me. This attitude isn't peculiar to me, but it may seem to be if you are free of it.

Three of us live together: me, Ralph the cat, and Chazz the disease. Ralph doesn't know about or care about Chazz, who doesn't know anything about Ralph either.

For a long time, the only reason I knew about my constant companion Chazz was that he showed up every time I had a blood test. Of course, the lab folks would throw in a carcinoma specific antigen (csa) check. If you are clean your csa is somewhere between 5 to 9; mine was about 240 as of the first of the year.

The test is a reliable one so research folks thought I must be a goner. But the oncologists thought I was clean for they could find nothing in their X-rays, MRIs, CAT scans and bone scans. Even my brain scans showed nothing. Then a recent CAT scan (taken within the past month) revealed what they knew must be there-tumor activity in my lungs and sacrum.

And you know what? I feel fine! I felt fine before they found the tumors and I feel fine now. We will watch their growth and deal with them if we need to. In the meantime I plan to get on with my life! It was HOPE that changed my outlook. Of course I regard myself as mortal, but I don't fret over whether Chazz or a UPS van will get me. Something will get you too, so there's no use worrying. As author Richard Carlson says in his book, "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff," don't let the little things control your life. You can resist stress, you know, so calm down and learn to love life and the people you know.

Regard Ralph. He is a big, happy Maine coon cat; he doesn't worry about fleas or neighbors with flower gardens he would regard as sandboxes to be used as toilets (he stays inside), nor does he fret about food (at 14 pounds he hasn't missed many meals). He's mostly laid back, though I do wish he would drop his habit of waking me to frolic at 3 a.m.

But he loves me and I love him. He could do serious damage to me, and that potential worries me not at all.

The relationship with Chazz is more complex, but it has similarities. Four times Chazz has put me in the hospital. Sure, that was expensive in time and money lost, but examine what Chazz has given me:

I am more laid back, relaxed and lovable (honest!) than before Chazz.
The Bible taught me that giving and receiving were the same, but the HOPE Golden Book convinced me that was true.
Love is the opposite of fear. Believe me, if you can learn and apply this, you'll have your money's worth from HOPE
Forget the past and the future. Ditto this one.
Well, I shan't bore you further with this. Time and time again you hear cancer patients (or victims of child or spousal abuse or alcoholism or depression or whatever affliction) say they are a happier and better person afterward.

In other words: Your attitudes helped create the problem or illness, and they will certainly help to cure it. The HOPE membership will teach you that is true. I believe it as surely as I believe in God and love.

Write out the sentence, "My improved attitude will improve my health," or something to that effect, and tape it to your bathroom mirror. Repeat it aloud daily when you shave or brush your teeth, and consider it gospel. Do it for 20 or 30 days and you'll find that it works.

And then you can devote your spare time to worthwhile things like making wood furniture, toys and trinkets, memorizing limericks or rassling with your cat. Doesn't that sound like an improvement?

We would love to have your HOPE story for Ripples! Please send it to the HOPE office, PO Box 276, South Paris, ME 04281 or email it to hope-at-hopehealing.org. If you don't think you are a writer, record it onto a tape and send that to the office. The editor will transcribe and edit it for you!