image credit: angela7dreams
We clasp the hands of those that go before us,
And the hands of those who come after us.
We enter the little circle of each other’s arms
And the larger circle of lovers,
Whose hands are joined in a dance,
And the larger circle of all creatures,
Passing in and out of life,
Who move also in a dance,
To a music so subtle and vast that no ear hears it
Except in fragments
by Wendell Berry
Community
In challenging times, the power of community is our strength and support. When we share the gifts that we have, we become aware of our capacity to love and are nurtured by it. We discover our own strength that we were not even aware of previously.
Here is an excerpt from a speech by the Dalai Lama: The Nobel Lecture, December 11, 1989
“Responsibility does not only lie with the leaders of our countries or with those who have been appointed or elected to do a particular job. It lies with each of us individually. Peace, for example, starts within each one of us. When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us. When our community is in a state of peace, it can share that peace with neighboring communities, and so on. When we feel love and kindness towards others, it not only makes others feel loved and cared for, but it helps us also to develop inner happiness and peace. And there are ways in which we can consciously work to develop feelings of love and kindness. For some of us, the most effective way to do so is through religious practice. For others it may be non-religious practices. What is important is that we each make a sincere effort to take our responsibility for each other and for the natural environment we live in seriously.”
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you for this. May the hours I live today radiate the peace from me I want to see in the world. May my entire community be blessed.
What a beautiful blessing Harmony!
To know that each one of us is empowered to change our world by being Peace; this is our highest purpose and our greatest gift to the world.
Thank you for your gracious presence here, I so appreciate your wisdom!
Peace to you my friend!
Hi Miruh,
I think you’ve hit on something; the power of community. It is so vital to who we are and how we react to what’s happening around us. We really do have to reach out and around each other. I believe we all have to commune with the spirit inside of us before we can commune with the community.
Peace be with you my friend.
Hi Alexys,
It is one of those paradoxes of life, “…To commune with the spirit inside of us before we can commune with the community;” yet, as the saying goes: “No man is an island.” We need to commune with the community to reflect back to us who we are, so we can truly know ourselves and to connect with spirit.
As always, it’s a pleasure to read your insightful comments!
May the community of kindred souls bless you and support you!
Peaceful Cheers!
I love the image that reminds me of Peruvian mountain people. Their resilience is inspirational. To nurture love wherever you are expands your soul. I wonder if you ever read a booke called, Out on a Limb by Shirley Maclaine. If not, I would recommend her books for the depth and intensity of her personal journeys.
Hi Liara,
I too love this image, the women and babies and the lamb was the perfect illustration for Wendell Berry’s poem.
I loved reading Out on a Limb, thanks for mentioning it, I must read it again. Shirley Maclaine is one of those courageous people who have inspired me with her humor and everyday spirituality.
“To nurture love wherever you are expands your soul.”
Thanks for these beautiful words my friend!
Loving Cheers
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