We Share One Life, We Are One Life
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Smaragd - Meditation, Angela Marie Henriette, Flickr
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When you do things from your soul, you feel a river moving in you, a joy.
*Rumi
Scripture
He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
*John 1.10, NKJV
Devotional Thoughts
"He was in the world." In these words we find the example of Christ for us living here-and-now, mindfully, heartfully. The words set forth a key to practical, timeless wisdom, for all seasons of our life together as a human community.
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Some years ago, I picked up a little book by Julia Cameron and titled Answered Prayers. The Prayers are, ironically, from God to us. I randomly turned to a Prayer, one day, where God spoke of how I get distracted by little problems and the idea of my littleness amidst what seem overwhelming life challenges. God said, “You brood over your problems.” I was told to trust that God can intervene and help me, that God wants to do that, and that all I need do is open to His help in childlike faith. God assured me, “It is my intention that you find this world rich and enjoyable.”
The last words of the Prayer, though, struck me most: “Bring your pain to me. Allow me to lift its burden so your heart can rejoin the world.” I was reminded that self-absorption removes me from the world, the world I am to live in, serve, love, and, yes, enjoy; indeed, the world Christ lived in, even among persons who "did not know Him." And the Gospels show us a Jesus who could suffer deeply, but they, also, show us a Jesus who could much enjoy a good party or a nice meal with rich food and spirited drink.
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Pain, in its many forms, can open our hearts to life or turn us inward into a self-gaze that accumulates within the debris of resentment and regret. We can identify with pain and call it "my pain," while we look onto others as though they have it easier, and we are imprisoned in our self-pity and envy. We are to live in the world, gladly, not isolated from it in a self-protective armor of angry envy or showy but airy strength.
And we will need daily retreat for prayerful renewal. This solitude is, however, one with our life among others and all creatures. Through daily renewal we are readied and steadied to live gracefully. And the more we grow into our life in Grace, the more we grow into our life in the world. Our growing into the world will lead us to discover or to meet by divinely-ordained providence the resources of help and sharing that will teach us more deeply the meaning and gift of the world community.
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Let us take time to reflect on the meaning of enjoying life in this world. Consider the word enjoy. See, the word is made from en and joy. Let us live in-joy, thankful to be in this community of humans and other creatures, cherishing our place in the world and our blessing others and being blessed by others. Let us not allow pain to sour our gladness to be gifted with this blessing of Life-with-others. Let us trust God, prayerfully, as best we understand That, and ask to be graced to live daily life to its fullest, letting go of the past, and sharing joy with others who long for hope and kindness.
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We are each a lovely, pure Rose, in the Garden of Grace.
*White Rose, Pyogenes..., Flickr
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*You can contact Brian at briankwilcox@yahoo.com. Please keep in mind, when reading from this site, that teachings cover an extended period of years and, therefore, reflect changes over that time.
