Thursday, September 28, 2006 at 1:01am
We are the 'glue' of God's creation
Column: Our Place in the Universe
It has been stated that humankind evolved as the "awareness of the universe". Where does this "awareness" come from? I believe we were created with a spiritual body as well as a physical body. It is our spiritual body that reflects the "awareness" of the creative power, an awareness that can "see" the interconnections of all things through love; that can "create" these connections and even forge new bonds, building new things. In essence, we are the glue that holds the rest of creation together.
If things are falling apart in this world, if we see pollution or global warming, it is our spirit that we must look to first to see where the problem lies. Our awareness and our connection are intertwined. We have the habit of wanting to "take dominion", to be "in control". When we start to live in fear, when we start controlling and dominating others, when we become possessive — this is my land, my food, my money — our awareness shrinks and our spirit shrivels.
When we are innocent, selfless, constantly renewing our connection to the whole through our connection with the Earth, each day is a renewal of the Self, reaching beyond itself. Each day is a renewal of truth without manipulation or control. Power is present in our ability to allow the Heart of the Universe to work through us. This allows us to merge with life, with love, and with the great Oneness.
With our connection to the Earth we are constantly renewing and "feeding" ourselves with the power and beauty of creation. We are reinforcing our balance and our truth so that the needs of the individual are balanced with the needs of the whole. With our connection to the Earth we see ourselves as part of a bigger whole, so we are never lonely, or without support or protection.
In our "awareness" we are also conscious of time, and therefore are conscious of change. Our idea of the seasons passing, or the days passing is not just an instinct to move from here to there as in migration. Our idea of time is growth, change, maturity, and the chance for new creations to take shape. Our movement allows so many opportunities and choices — chances to make and remake ourselves.
Herein, however lies our difficulty. Our awareness of time and movement, of evolution itself, allows us an opportunity to take the easy way out, to take a short cut. Instead of waiting for our growth and maturity, for our individualism to blossom into our own unique gift and offering to creation, we begin to force change and growth based on fear and power rather than the time-consuming reality of love.
When we are truly aware, we are present for each moment; we are attentive to each being; we see with a broad vision; we hear with an open heart; we speak with a supporting, nurturing power that constructs new ideas, new connections rather than destroying them. This is the vibration of the creation around us. Our connection to the creation allows us to shape that vibration into new ideas, and new realities.
When we cut ourselves off from creation, or abuse and manipulate creation, we destroy the connection and creation suffers from lack of appreciation. Its purpose to bring us joy is thwarted, and it begins to wilt and die. At the same time our spirit suffers the same consequence. Without the supporting balance and beauty of nature, our spirit wilts and shrivels. Incapable of blossoming without the original intent, we've resorted to creating false environments, walling ourselves in to our cities and banishing ourselves from the Garden. Our joy becomes our possessions; our love is replaced with greed.
So, how do we begin to change this pattern that has closed our awareness of ourselves and our place in this universe? Perhaps you can go outside tonight and look at the vast grandeur of the stars in the sky and feel your limited physical-ness in front of such expansiveness, and, reaching out, find the infinity of your soul connection. Perhaps you can look at the pure beauty of a flower, and feel it touching your heart, behind your eyes, your nose, your senses, reaching into that place of peace and contentment that comes from connecting with the flow and balance of creation.
Perhaps you can sit down on the ground and send out your spiritual awareness to feel the vibration of goodness that surrounds us, letting it surround you with its peace. Then go inside and give a loved-one a hug.
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Anne E. Ulvestad is a freelance writer residing in Maryland. She has her masters in earth literacy, and is available for public lectures and group presentations on Spirituality and the Environment. Anne can be reached at {email anne@ourplaceintheuniverse.com}anne@ourplaceintheuniverse.com{/email}. © copyright 2006 by Anne E. Ulvestad
— — —
ReligionAndSpirituality.com is a big tent for all expressions
of faith and spirituality, neither excluding nor favoring any.
All opinions expressed belong to the writer alone, and are
not necessarily shared by ReligionAndSpirituality.com.
If things are falling apart in this world, if we see pollution or global warming, it is our spirit that we must look to first to see where the problem lies. Our awareness and our connection are intertwined. We have the habit of wanting to "take dominion", to be "in control". When we start to live in fear, when we start controlling and dominating others, when we become possessive — this is my land, my food, my money — our awareness shrinks and our spirit shrivels.
When we are innocent, selfless, constantly renewing our connection to the whole through our connection with the Earth, each day is a renewal of the Self, reaching beyond itself. Each day is a renewal of truth without manipulation or control. Power is present in our ability to allow the Heart of the Universe to work through us. This allows us to merge with life, with love, and with the great Oneness.
With our connection to the Earth we are constantly renewing and "feeding" ourselves with the power and beauty of creation. We are reinforcing our balance and our truth so that the needs of the individual are balanced with the needs of the whole. With our connection to the Earth we see ourselves as part of a bigger whole, so we are never lonely, or without support or protection.
In our "awareness" we are also conscious of time, and therefore are conscious of change. Our idea of the seasons passing, or the days passing is not just an instinct to move from here to there as in migration. Our idea of time is growth, change, maturity, and the chance for new creations to take shape. Our movement allows so many opportunities and choices — chances to make and remake ourselves.
Herein, however lies our difficulty. Our awareness of time and movement, of evolution itself, allows us an opportunity to take the easy way out, to take a short cut. Instead of waiting for our growth and maturity, for our individualism to blossom into our own unique gift and offering to creation, we begin to force change and growth based on fear and power rather than the time-consuming reality of love.
When we are truly aware, we are present for each moment; we are attentive to each being; we see with a broad vision; we hear with an open heart; we speak with a supporting, nurturing power that constructs new ideas, new connections rather than destroying them. This is the vibration of the creation around us. Our connection to the creation allows us to shape that vibration into new ideas, and new realities.
When we cut ourselves off from creation, or abuse and manipulate creation, we destroy the connection and creation suffers from lack of appreciation. Its purpose to bring us joy is thwarted, and it begins to wilt and die. At the same time our spirit suffers the same consequence. Without the supporting balance and beauty of nature, our spirit wilts and shrivels. Incapable of blossoming without the original intent, we've resorted to creating false environments, walling ourselves in to our cities and banishing ourselves from the Garden. Our joy becomes our possessions; our love is replaced with greed.
So, how do we begin to change this pattern that has closed our awareness of ourselves and our place in this universe? Perhaps you can go outside tonight and look at the vast grandeur of the stars in the sky and feel your limited physical-ness in front of such expansiveness, and, reaching out, find the infinity of your soul connection. Perhaps you can look at the pure beauty of a flower, and feel it touching your heart, behind your eyes, your nose, your senses, reaching into that place of peace and contentment that comes from connecting with the flow and balance of creation.
Perhaps you can sit down on the ground and send out your spiritual awareness to feel the vibration of goodness that surrounds us, letting it surround you with its peace. Then go inside and give a loved-one a hug.
— — —
Anne E. Ulvestad is a freelance writer residing in Maryland. She has her masters in earth literacy, and is available for public lectures and group presentations on Spirituality and the Environment. Anne can be reached at {email anne@ourplaceintheuniverse.com}anne@ourplaceintheuniverse.com{/email}. © copyright 2006 by Anne E. Ulvestad
ReligionAndSpirituality.com is a big tent for all expressions
of faith and spirituality, neither excluding nor favoring any.
All opinions expressed belong to the writer alone, and are
not necessarily shared by ReligionAndSpirituality.com.