More thinking.. and events...

We are one...
Today was my day off. I did receive a couple of phone calls, and I went into the Church to do a couple of jobs from the computer there and to re-install a light fitting I had brought home to repair. (You did not know this plumber/minister also did electrical work did you? - don't tell the building inspectors!) I spent most of the day doing stuff around home, repairing some furniture etc. I enjoyed that, but I also find that I continue to think and cogitate on things. I was thinking about the words of the Dalai Lama that I quoted in my last post, and the general directions of that post. The Irish lady, Maureen who went back to Ireland to be with her family once sang a song at our Christmas Day dinner, and again when I interviewed her in Church. Here are the words to that song; (I have quoted it before on my blog site)

By breath, by blood, by body, by spirit, we are all one 

The air that is my breath is the air that you are breathing
And the air that is your breath is the air that I am breathing
The wind rising in my breast is the wind from the east, from the west
From the north, from the south, breathing in, breathing out 

By breath, by blood, by body, by spirit, we are all one 

The water that is my blood, my sweat, tears from crying
Is the water that is your blood, your sweat, tears from crying
And the rising of the tide is in our veins and in the ocean wide
We are in the rising steam, rushing river, running stream

By breath, by blood, by body, by spirit, we are all one

 The earth is dust, the earth is clay, flow’rs blossoming and fading
We are dust and we are clay, we are blossoming and fading
Every color, every sound, every place is holy ground
Oh, every living thing, can you hear it laugh? Can you hear it sing?

By breath, by blood, by body, by spirit, we are all one

The fire in my heart, my soul flame burning
Is the fire in your heart, your soul flame burning
We are Spirit burning bright, by the light of day, in the dark of night
We are shining like the sun, and like the moon, like the Holy One

By breath, by blood, by body, by spirit, we are all one

......

The song is composed and sung by Sara Thomsen. I tend to think that a Spirituality and ethical base for life can come from a deep recognition that we are joined together, essentially one with each other and one with the universe. I think this is implicit in the Biblical creation myths, the emphases of Jesus, and even in the life of the New Testament Church. (e.g. The dream Paul sets forth in Ephesians is the whole of creation in harmony under God.) But beyond specific religions, I think this is a base truth to be discovered, experienced and lived. There are further implications tumbling into my mind but they need to evolve some more.

Disharmony..and involvement? Yesterday afternoon my friend and I went for our traditional Sunday afternoon walk. We had just finished and were saying our farewells when all hell broke loose down the road on the other side of the road. Up against a car two couples were screaming at one another. All the "F" words, the choicest gutter insults and real rage. We moved closer to make sure they knew we were aware and close at hand so that it did not escalate into violence. Other people began to ring the police. It was so loud that quite a bit further down the street a householder screamed abuse out her window at them. As things calmed down a man from one of the couples came over and explained that the other couple had stolen their kid's soccer ball and had turned their dog onto them. They had got their ball back, and I weakly suggested he walk away. I was shocked to see that this couple's children had watched the whole thing... mum and dad screaming obscenities at two other adults who were screaming back at them. It wasn't really an adult way to get your ball back, and gave a sad atmosphere to what was quite an idilic park area, with families playing and walking in the afternoon sun.  I must admit to feeling uneasy for sometime after wondering what more I could have done. It is often an issue. How much do you interfere? Do you stick your head up to be knocked off, or do you stay clear, and pretend it doesn't exist or it is not your problem? I read the paper recently and a regular columnist commented on marriage, old and modern, and gay marriage. As I read it I found it to be arrogant and insulting. I struggled with that. Will I write a letter to the editor siding with the gay perspective? Will I speak out? I may face rejection in my job? I may lose friends? It will be for me a public "coming out", risky... it would be easier not to? Well I felt compelled to write so I blasted off an email to the editor. They have not published it. I do not know if I feel relieved or disappointed... both I guess. What battles do you choose to buy into?

I can't force you to be right...

With a twinkle in his eye my son put the photo and slogan above on Facebook. I had to chuckle. We perhaps don't say it out loud, but I admit I sometimes think similar thoughts. "Its OK if you disagree with me, I can't force you to be right" 

Generosity

In the hurly burly of conversation after Church a man handed me an envelope saying, "Just an anonymous donation to the Night Shelter". I thanked him and put it in my pocket. He had given $20 or a little more from time to time so I expected something similar. When I later looked in the unsealed envelop I discovered a cheque for a few thousand dollars. I feel a bit overwhelmed and deeply moved by this support. Sometimes people really do surprise you with their goodness. It is so needed and such an encouragement at many levels. That's why I pass on the good news.

Connectedness...

I have been stewing on this concept.- "Connectedness"

What would it mean if we lived by two simple truths...

1. We are connected to each other throughout the world. We are in essence brothers and sisters.
2. We are connected to the planet... we are like cells in our body, a living part of this great big organism we call planet earth.

The implications of these two statements are profound. I will be exploring this in my own thinking. I have a couple of note books in which I write quotations that appeal. Here are some on this theme.

"Human beings are like parts of a body
created from the same essence.
When one part is hurt and in pain,
the others cannot remain in peace and be quiet.
If the misery of others leaves you
indifferent and with no feelings of sorrow
You cannot be called a human being!"
(I don't know who wrote that... I think it was Dag Hammarskjold)

I was studying Maori Culture and came across these lines in an article called "My Maoriness".

"The people from my own generation
I regard as brothers and sisters,
and I also regard their children
as sons and daughters.
I have extended the philosophy
of that community to include other people.
If I am able to make people feel
warm, content, and important with few material props,
then I know I am getting closer to attaining
the qualities that are important in human relationships."
- by Rose Pere

I once had a man I was helping and supporting write me a very critical and hate filled letter. I agonised over what to reply. In my response I apologised to him if I had hurt him and explained my position to him. As part of it I laid out some important truths I believe.

"It's simple really...
... we are invited to be partners with a loving creative God....
and
we all belong together."

I also said...

"... nobody is perfect, I just try to help people to be the best that they can be..."

The letter worked because he was soon back in touch with me and remained in touch until he died. I know life is complicated, but I tend to think that the basic guidelines and directions are very simple truths that when worked out and applied can have incredible profound impacts on life and relationships.

Experiencing "connectedness"

Given my previous thoughts, I thought I would tell you about a few experiences of unity, of connectedness and love that, to me at least, are a genuine “high”.

One clear sunny Saturday on a Habitat for Humanity site a couple of years ago we had one of those days. We arrived and the frame work of the house was up and needed strapping, tied down and the roof trusses and frame work erected. We had a diverse group of men and women and indeed, some children and we set to working. We worked our way through the tasks, each person fitting into a job that they felt “comfortable” with. When at afternoon tea we assessed the situation we set our goal to get the roof framework completed. There was a great sense of teamwork as people cut, passed and nailed. About 5:15 p.m. we nailed the last nail home. Arms were sore from nailing. People were worn out by all the lifting, shifting and sawing. The foreman called us together and perched on the roof framing we had a brief time of thanksgiving prayer. Here we were, men and women, young and old, a wide variety of denominations, some no spiritual home, all sitting tired on the roof, feeling one with each other and God. I don’t know what the neighbours thought,…. a prayer meeting on top of a roof, late on a Saturday…. but it just seemed appropriate and gave expression to the unity we had already experienced.

Another Habitat House in July 2008. We had set the time for the dedication service at 3 p.m. I arrived at around 8 a.m. and stuck a sheet of paper with around 30 jobs to be completed by the opening. Volunteers turned up, again a great variety of men and women. During the day one by one, each job was ticked off. Ten minutes before the dedication ceremony I changed out of muddy clothing, a friend passed me a cup of tea, I collected my thoughts, and we began the ceremony. Again we were tired, but we had a deep sense of being together in preparing the house for the family to move in the next day.

We run a drop-in at the church. The main leaders are two couples. It is on Friday evenings from 6:30 – 9:30. There are all types at the drop in and we would average 40 through each Friday. Many have drink, drugs or mental health issues. Sometimes they clash with one another and we have evolved ways of keeping the peace. I will grab someone I know who can cause a problem and keep them busy playing table tennis… or Curly will move in and play pool with someone or engage them in conversation. We tag team with people, and doing dishes and playing pool. During the night as various situations emerge, Curly and I will look at each other and without language know what is needed, and support one another in the tasks. Again it is just a sense of being on the same wave length, sensing the same purpose and knowing we are together in caring for others.

A retired fireman was dying in the hospice. His friends at the fire station kept visiting along with me and between us we talked to his wife and family about the inevitable and the funeral. He eventually died and I began funeral preparations. We were to hold it with the family at the central fire station. There was to be a vintage fire truck as a hearse, we would borrow chairs, organ and lectern from the church. We would set up a sound system. We needed sprigs to be cut for the ceremony, a reader for the reading, a fireman representative to speak etc. etc. For two days of preparation I felt the sense of support of the firemen. One fireman took the day off and told me he was available to organize what ever needed to be done. The family and friends gathered, all sitting in the seats we had laid out. Behind there was a wall of fire men in their “undress” uniforms. As I stood at the front of the assembled congregation to begin the service, I could sense all these fire guys looking at me… but not only looking at me, but WITH me as together we remembered their mate.

I got word of a lady in our church who I loved like my own mother, had died suddenly after bypass surgery. My wife and I rushed to the intensive care unit to be with her husband and family. In time we were allowed to gather around her bed. I had known the family most of my life and they asked if I would lead in prayer. We held hands and I choked out a few words of love, thanksgiving and grief. At the end of the prayer we just stood there holding hands sobbing quietly, but unified in our grief.

A friend and I had set our goal of doing a half-marathon. For me it was losing the fat and getting back into doing one, for her a new experience. For months in all sorts of weather we had encouraged one another, compared training schedules, trained and kept each other going. Then we ran the distance and together crossed the line. We lay on the grass exhausted, but feeling so good. Runners will tell you that you often feel connected with "life", other runners and your own body in such a race. All the months of training had been worth it, we had overcome and together we had achieved. Our families were there to celebrate with us but somehow they were almost an interruption. It was OUR triumph, we had done it together.

I could tell you of heaps more similar stories. Such times of unity and connectedness are sacred, deep and among the most precious experiences of life. They cut through all the crap of life and say, “this is the essence of life”. I am fortunate to keep experiencing them. (Photo: setting up the roof trusses that Saturday)