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An inspiring message 12/5/2005 6:48:55 PM
I got this in my e-mail today and thought it was worth sharing. I hope you enjoy this.
We had our first real snow of the season here in the Catskills
today-the kind of snow that blankets the ground with soft powder and
creates an amazing quiet. Tonight is truly a silent night. Although
few cars ever travel on my road, it is especially quiet tonight. The
geese are all gone now from Hust Pond, the wind has stopped, the deer
make not a sound as they cross the meadow, and there is an incredible
stillness in the air. Silent night, holy night.
The silence is one of the things that I love the most about winter
nights in the mountains. I also love the crystal clarity of the cold
night air-so clear that the Milky Way seems close enough to touch.
And when you are that close to the stars, you begin to feel an amazing
oneness with them. We are, in fact, made of the same elements as the
stars. And when you look out into the amazing night sky, what you see
actually no longer exists. You are looking at a picture of something
that once was but is no longer, even though it appears so real in the
present moment. As you peer into the heavens, time goes away, and any
sense of separation between you and anything else vanishes. And there
you are-just you and the universe. It is awe-inspiring, and in that
moment, it feels incredibly holy.
Those moments of oneness offer us tiny glimpses into the true
reality of creation. All of creation is indeed one. And we are a
part of that oneness. As humans, we like to think that somehow we
stand apart from the rest of creation because of our great mental and
emotional development. But the truth is, every part of creation, when
allowed to truly blossom and live in its magnificence, carries a
tremendous wisdom and understanding of how life works, and plays a
vital role in the functioning of the universe. We are a part of
that-not greater than or less than or separate from.
I recently read that if all of the insects were to disappear from
the planet today, there would be no life remaining within five years.
On the other hand, if all human life were to disappear from the planet
today, all of the rest of life would be thriving within five years as
perhaps never before. I don't know the scientific validity of that
statement, but it gives us something to think about. What if we were
just cogs in the wheel of creation, not the ones running the machine
as we can so easily think of ourselves? What if all other forms of
life were equal cogs, and would thrive beyond anything we have ever
known if we were not here trying to run the machine?
It is a grand universe we live in. We are privileged to be a part
of it. And if, in fact, it did not depend on us, and might even have
an easier time of it if we were not here, then what is the greatest
gift we can give to the universe by our presence? What is the
greatest gift you can give to the universe by your presence? If the
universe does not need us, then how can we make it better for having
been here?
This is the gift-giving season. It is a wonderful feeling to give
gifts to those we love, especially when the gift is carefully chosen
to have special meaning for the recipient and bring them great joy.
But have you added the universe to your shopping list? Have you given
careful consideration to what you might give to this amazing world in
which we live-this world which gives you life, breath, sustenance?
Silent night, holy night. Go out into the silent night and look up
into the sky. Connect to the universe, touch the holiness of creation
and know your part in it. Ask of yourself and of the universe what is
the gift wanting to be given through you? And then give it. Put the
universe on the top of your shopping list. Know the Love that is your
heart and your essence. And as you make your New Year resolutions,
consider what it might mean to live fully grounded in the Love that is
the essence of your soul. Who do you commit to being as you step into
the New Year? Fully be who you are in this amazing and interconnected
system of life.
Silent night, holy night. The silence and holiness of nature is
beyond words. It will help you touch the profound beauty of the
oneness of creation. As you enter into this season of celebration,
whatever your tradition, find the opportunity to experience the
silence, beauty, and holiness of your soul. Bask in the holiness of
the silent night, of your silent heart. Ask who you are called to be
and what gifts you are called to give to the universe. Know the
oneness of all of creation and your part in its magnificent unfolding.
