Oneness and the Power of Kindness

February's theme is Oneness.

It's a big idea.  Oneness isn't something you can point to or easily see because we are immersed in it.  Probably the best synonym for what Centers for Spiritual Living means by Oneness is Panentheism.  The belief that Spirit is greater than the universe itself and includes and saturates all life.

I love this quote from Ernest Holmes, author and founder of the Science of Mind philosophy and Centers for Spiritual Living:

"We are in the Water of Infinite Life as the fish is in the ocean.  The Spirit of Life is all around us. It flows through us. It permeates everything and flows through every condition. And yet we are still looking for it."

So how does one experience Oneness?

I think it's sort of like the wind, we can't see the wind but we can see the effect of it.  We see the leaves blowing in the wind or a flag waving in the wind, but we don't actually see wind itself.

I'd like to think Kindness is like that.  One of the many effects of Oneness.  We extend ourselves to others in kindness as a way of connecting, caring for and having compassion for one another.

I tripped across this lovely story (from Elizabeth Gilbert) about kindness recently that I'd like to share with you.  It demonstrates the power of a kind act that reminds us that we are all in this together.

Some years ago, I was stuck on a crosstown bus in New York City during rush hour. Traffic was barely moving. The bus was filled with cold, tired people who were deeply irritated—with one another; with the rainy, sleety weather; with the world itself. Two men barked at each other about a shove that might or might not have been intentional. A pregnant woman got on, and nobody offered her a seat. Rage was in the air; no mercy would be found here. 

But as the bus approached Seventh Avenue, the driver got on the intercom. "Folks," he said, "I know you've had a rough day and you're frustrated. I can't do anything about the weather or traffic, but here's what I can do. As each one of you gets off the bus, I will reach out my hand to you. As you walk by, drop your troubles into the palm of my hand, okay? Don't take your problems home to your families tonight—just leave 'em with me. My route goes right by the Hudson River, and when I drive by there later, I'll open the window and throw your troubles in the water. Sound good?" 

It was as if a spell had lifted. Everyone burst out laughing. Faces gleamed with surprised delight. People who'd been pretending for the past hour not to notice each other's existence were suddenly grinning at each other like, is this guy serious? 

Oh, he was serious. 

At the next stop—just as promised—the driver reached out his hand, palm up, and waited. One by one, all the exiting commuters placed their hand just above his and mimed the gesture of dropping something into his palm. Some people laughed as they did this, some teared up—but everyone did it. The driver repeated the same lovely ritual at the next stop, too. And the next. All the way to the river.

As we explore this idea of Oneness this month, let it remind us that we are all in this together.  While we are all many and varied, we are also interconnected.  Oneness shows up in the effects of our actions in the world.  How will Oneness show up through you, what acts, words or deeds will you demonstrate as your part of the whole of humanity?

The reflection practice this week is to pay attention to how you show up in your little slice of life.  Consider how you can use kindness to be the peace, love, beauty or joy you want to see in the world.

Love,

Alice