An ancient Chinese proverb shares the belief that we are connected to one another in a deeply meaningful way. It seems that when a child is born, an invisible red thread extends from the child’s spirit to connect her with all the significant people who will become part of her life journey.

 As the child grows the thread shortens drawing her closer to those people who have been, currently are or will be important in her life. Throughout life the thread may stretch, twist or tangle but it will never break.

 You may regard this as just an enchanting tale but it does hold an element of spiritual truth. For the people with whom our lives touch offer us opportunities to learn and we can help each other along our spiritual paths.

 In our youth, we set out with adventurous spirits to embrace life’s potential. Along the way we experience the joys and sorrows that accompany living. When setbacks occur we tend to shake ourselves off, get back up and  keep going. Often we avoid taking time to be with painful emotions that arise from loss, instead we shield our hearts from feeling hurt.

 You have heard it said that the people and situations that arouse our intense emotion or stretch us out of our comfort zone are our greatest teachers. When we let go of resistance, the pain of judgment falls to free our acceptance of "what is."

 Perhaps, we must wait until we are strong enough to begin to look within to forgive ourselves and others. We may not fully comprehend the reason or the lesson until much later in life. I imagine the red thread connects us in ways that surpass our earthly understanding.

Our encounters with each other have a way of coming full circle to surprise and awaken our hearts. Love opens the door to reconciliation and healing. This is the blessing to be discovered when we show up for one another.

Liz Sorensen Wessel

Mandala by ~liz