Holding Up To The Light
Ah, turn the light on. I can't see. I'm in the dark. How often do we find ourselves using phrases like "in the light" or "in the darkness" when describing the situations we encounter in life? Light, as wonderfully explained by scientists, encompasses all colors when combined. Darkness, on the other hand, is simply the absence of light. In spiritual discussions, light often symbolizes goodness, while darkness can evoke feelings of evil or danger. But these are merely relative terms.
Here at "Fishing Without Bait," we adopt a perspective that welcomes all experiences. We expect the unexpected and approach life without predefined expectations. This mindset helps us avoid the pitfalls of disappointment and encourages us to live fully and freely. Let’s explore these concepts further.
The Light of Kindness: It's a practice here to end our podcasts (and these posts) with a simple yet profound challenge: do a kindness for yourself and for another. This has been our mantra from the early days. Every day, like many of you, we receive numerous requests—from work, help, to donations. Occasionally, requests to pray for various causes also come our way, including prayers for illnesses, tests, and sometimes even for a basketball team to win! It’s interesting how we sometimes focus our spiritual requests on trivial matters.
Remembering a speech by Bobby Knight, he once pointed out the absurdity of asking for divine favors in sports. He emphasized that the Divine, or the Creator, is likely more concerned with the suffering and challenges in places like refugee camps or cancer wards, not basketball courts. This reminder helps ground our perspective, urging us not to trivialize our spiritual connections or treat them as a means to selfish ends.
Holding Others in the Light: In the Religious Society of Friends, which I am proudly a part of, we don't just "pray for" someone in a traditional sense. Instead, we 'hold people in the light.' This practice involves envisioning individuals surrounded by the infinite love and connection that the Divine has for each of us. It's a profound way to support others spiritually without attempting to dictate specific outcomes. It reflects a trust in the greater will or destiny that the universe has in store, aligning our wishes with a higher power’s design.
Loving Ourselves to Love Others: When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandments, he spoke of loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and loving our neighbor as ourselves. This raises an interesting point: how can we genuinely love others if we do not love ourselves? Self-love isn't about egocentrism; it's about recognizing and appreciating our own qualities and contributions. When we understand and like who we are, we can genuinely extend that love outward.
Becoming the Gardener of Your Life: Consider yourself as a gardener. Would you transplant a thriving plant from fertile soil into a barren sandbox? Similarly, we shouldn't place ourselves in environments that stunt our growth. Every plant, like every person, needs sunlight, water, and good soil—metaphorically, these are the love, care, and environment we surround ourselves with. By cultivating these elements in our lives, we prepare ourselves to not only flourish but also to share the beauty of our spirits with others.
Today, I challenge you, and I challenge myself: Be your own gardener. Hold yourself in the light. Let this light grow so bright that it naturally extends to those around you. Do a kindness for yourself, and do a kindness for another. Let us all connect with and share the Divine’s love.
Namaste.
