Unfathomable, unknowable, unseen, infinite, do take care of us you abound in waters, on land, across space, your light shines in every heart.
*Guru Nanak. Poems from the Sikh Sacred Tradition. Bilval Raga, 2:2. Trans. Nikky-Gunider Kaur Singh.
...let your light shine for all to see...
*Gospel of Matthew 5.16
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A Sioux story -
A young flower in a desert stood alone. The desert was dry and sad-looking. The flower enjoyed each day. Day-to-day, it asked the Sun, "When shall I be grown up?" The Sun would say, "Be patient; you grow a little each time I touch you." The reply pleased the little flower, for she only wanted to bring beauty to the desert.
One day, a hunter came by and stepped on the little flower. She was going to die. She was not sad about dying; she was saddened knowing she would not have a chance to bring a little beauty to the desert.
The Great Spirit saw her and listened to her prayer of lament. He thought to himself, "She should be living." So, the Great Spirit reached down and touched the little flower and gave her life.
The little flower grew to be beautiful, touched daily by the Sun. Her little part of the desert became very beautiful because of her presence.
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February 2016 -
A friend visited my apartment today. We talked, and we laughed for a while. She was my first visitor to my new apartment. When she left, I felt blessed; her presence brought beauty to my home and my heart. And, as always, when touched by such Presence, I felt grateful.
Grace touches us to give us Life. Why? There is no need to explain this in grand terms, theological, mystical, or philosophical. We each are touched by Grace to beautify the world, that when we leave here, the world will be more lovely, graceful, and kind for our having come this way.
As a [hospice] chaplain working with the dying and their families, I see some of the most lovely persons leaving this world, leaving it a more beautiful world due to their having been here. I pray someone can say that of me after I last breathe.
Love beautifies us, to beautify. In Grace, we are Grace for each other; we are loved and healed together.
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I have here used "Grace" to refer to the "Sun" in the Sioux story. Many words can be used for that. Something other than our small sense of self - ego - works within to bring out the innate light often hidden behind by shadowy thoughts and emotions. The more we are healed, the more radiance we reflect into the world from the Sun. We discover we are one with the Sun, sharing the same light.
While our personalities may be limited, our True Self - the heart - is limitless in capacity to enlighten. If you put a small lamp in a large, dark room, the whole room is a little less dark. Even a little of the Light is a priceless blessing in an overcast world.
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*(C) Brian K. Wilcox, 2023. Permission is given to use photographs and writings with credit given to the copyright owner.
*Brian's book is An Ache for Union: Poems on Oneness with God through Love. The book is a collection of poems Brian wrote based on wisdom traditions, predominantly Christian, Buddhist, and Sufi, with extensive notes on the poetry's teachings and imagery.
