We’re All Connected in the Web of Life
We are here to awaken
from our illusion of separateness.
Thich Nhat Hanh
As I write this, the world is watching the daily unfolding of horrors in Ukraine, as the war continues. The massive destruction of cities and infrastructure is hard to watch, and our hearts go out to the millions of people who have lost their homes, their livelihood, and the necessities for survival.
As people flee in search of safety, I am heartened by the compassionate response of the citizens and governments of their neighboring countries. Equally uplifting is the response of people around the world. Modern technology enables us to witness events as they occur, and we are emotionally drawn in. Although we don’t know them, we care about the Ukrainian people.
We feel connected to them. Love calls us to help, and we do what we can. Millions of people around the world are sending prayers and making financial contributions to organizations that are supporting people still in Ukraine and the refugees in other countries.
Once again, world events have focused our attention on our connection to one another. Sometimes it is easier to connect emotionally with people we don’t know, who are clearly being victimized, than it is to feel connected to people we encounter personally whom we don’t like for some reason.
Why is that? Larry and I have puzzled over this question.
Perhaps it is because, from a distance, we experience our shared humanity. Up close, we often lose sight of that and focus on the differences that we allow to divide us. Those differences get in the way of our kindness.
We are at a time in history that requires us to put our ideas of separation aside and to remember our kinship with one another – not just with those who are like us, but with all others sharing the Earth with us.
Our religions teach us to love one another. So, how did we get it so wrong through history and use our differences to hate and fear one another?
Religious ceremonies have been used for millennia to bring people together, to create a sense of community and belonging. The very experience of oneness that we feel when together in a familiar setting of a church, synagogue, mosque, temple – feeling the presence of a higher, loving power that protects us and guides our lives – the same experience has also been used to separate us from others who follow a different tradition.
In our religious traditions, we have ways of greeting one another with love and respect - Shalom (peace), Salaam (peace), Peace be with you, Namaste (I bow to you). These greetings carry a message of respect and honor that says, “I wish you well.”
I was pleased to see the spirit of these ancient greetings show up in our modern culture. In the science fiction movie, Avatar, the indigenous people on a planet that had been invaded had a simple greeting for one another – “I see you.” That rephrases all the religious greetings in a way that speaks to us today.
Do we really see each other - not just superficially, but in a deeper way, recognizing our inter-connection, our kinship? Or, as we encounter each other in our daily lives, do we see only the differences that separate us and trigger judgments that cause us to turn away rather than to reach out?
Have you ever been judged for something you said or something you did or for how you looked? Was there something inside of you calling out to be seen for all of who you are, not just the way you are showing up in this moment?
The way we see each other – those we know and those we are just meeting – affects the way we respond to them. When we decide to live with kindness, we are choosing to stay in our hearts and not let our ego jump in with all of its judgments.
How different our response could be if we silently said, “I see you” to every person we meet. “I see you” puts us back in our hearts – it is calling on us to see beyond the way someone is expressing in this moment and to see the deeper truth of our essential connection.
Can we do this?
We all have the power of choice. As you choose this as a silent mantra when you’re out in the world, you will see no stranger, just family you have yet to meet. You may find that this is a way to expand your kindness journey - to open new opportunities for you to take your love out into the world.
As you read these words, no matter where you are, please know that we see you, and we appreciate your being in our life.
Image by ClaudiaWollesen from Pixabay
We appreciate Daniel Nahmod for this song that reminds us how connected we are.
Breathe the Same Air
The 9 Cs of kindness are words that describe important aspects of a kindness journey. We invite you to check them out: Choice, Commitment, Connection, Curiosity, Courage, Compassion, Change, Community, Celebration
