With One Voice

In the adorations and benedictions of the righteous

The praises of all the prophets are kneaded together.

All their praises are mingled into one stream,

All the vessels are emptied into one ewer,

Because He that is praised is, in fact, only One.

In this respect all religions are only one religion,

Because all praises are directed towards God’s light.

Jalil al-Din Rumi 1207-73, Persia

As this year ends, perhaps like me, you are reflecting on the many sparks of light that have framed your days and nights. Many of  us are reminiscent of times spent with friends and loved ones far and near. We recall times of celebration, our joys and sorrows, of good fortune as well as hardships.

The above Rockwell painting is my all-time favorite because it reflects our collective humanity. We who are vulnerable, when gripped by fear forget our common origin. We create our circles of belonging that unwittingly exclude others. Our minds eye distorts our vision, so that those who appear different are seen as stranger or worse yet, our enemy.

Love calls us to so much more, calls us to remember our Oneness with all of creation. The New Year offers renewed hope amid perilous times, for together we can create a better world. We can be curious and in the process discover, "how to make a little more room in our hearts" for each person we encounter. We can acknowledge the times we miss the mark with compassion for ourselves and a humble receptivity towards the transforming power of Grace. 

Question for personal reflection: How can we cherish our heritage and faith tradition while honoring and offering hospitality towards people of differing beliefs. What unites us? 

Richard Rohr offers this, "Because of our inherent dignity as children of God, we are empowered and called, like Jesus was, to create a more loving and compassionate world. Responding to this divine invitation might be the ultimate gift we could offer back to God this Christmas season.

Wishing us all a year of expansive receptivity with compassion and kindness for all. 

Liz Sorensen Wessel
Painting, Norman Rockwell
Artwork by ~liz