I am standing out on the Brooklyn Heights Promenade looking across the East River toward the Manhattan skyline, anxiously awaiting the fireworks display for this Fourth of July celebration.  I am one in a crowd of hundreds, ultimately thousands, who have gathered to watch the fireworks along the East River.  Moms, dads, kids, old, young, brown, black, white, straight, gay, athletic, disabled, fat, skinny, beautiful.  My English language is only one of many I can hear.  All kinds of minds, all kinds of beliefs – Zen, Christianity, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhists, Atheists, Agnostics, educated, street smart, crazy, sweet, stupid, teachers, professors, city workers, janitors, executives, stay at home moms, entrepreneurs, preachers, rabbis,  etc, etc.  Sun dresses, short shorts, pants, sari’s, dresses, workout clothes, business attire…..what have I missed?  I stood humbled that I was part of this gathering.  Part of this world.  Part of the human race right here in New York City.
Everyone was here to celebrate, to be excited by a fireworks show.  To show their kids what we do on the 4th of July, to experience the American dream of independence, to just hang out, to get out of their hot apartments, to not be alone, to take a date, meet someone, or relive the childhood experience.  Again, I was overwhelmed that here I was, this solo girl – one of many – part of this amazing crowd.  Then this thought came to me.  If we can all be here together peacefully, why can’t we accept each other’s differences and just love each other?  Why can’t we toss out our prejudices, our preconceived ideas and passed-on judgments of other people and just accept that we are all one and the same – just different?  It was a powerful thought to me.  Then I realized that in a place like NYC, when you are confronted with the diversity of humans, you must certainly grow in tolerance of the differences and to understand and accept them more (or maybe I am being naive here?).  Whatever.  I am thankful to see this from this perceptive and share with you my realization that if we open up the horizons of our mind and hearts to embrace more than just people like ourselves, we not only do ourselves a great service, but we help to bring unity to the world.  Just saying…
Peace and Love
Sandy

Yes, the words that we all understand – pain, loss, grief, faith, hope, despair, love.  And you know what I like about them?  They connect us! If we could ever stop long enough to be honest with ourselves and each other, we would find that #1 – we are not alone, and #2 – we are all connected.  May not know all the answers (and we don’t) but we can sure get through this life easier when we don’t single ourselves out to be some kind of lonely martyr or pitiful victim.   Really.  What has gotten me through the tuff times in my life (along with the love and support of my family and friends), was knowing that there are MILLIONS of women (and men) around the world that are going through the same type of thing (or another type of painful thing)!  And we survive.  With love, we will survive.  Love for ourselves and with acceptance.  Acceptance without judgment.

Last night I watched Clint Eastwood’s movie Hereafter and wow, I will be thinking on this story and characters for days!  My short review is: slowly moving, powerful, beautiful, deeply touching, deeply emotional.  There were parts in the movie I wanted to wail!  But then other moments that made my heart smile.  My take away?  Just what I was talking about – the many similarities of our stories, our connectedness, and the sweet thread of humanity that holds us all together  – no matter where you are, who you are, or what you believe.  Oh, and let’s not forget that thing that is so common among us ALL – our faith, and our desire for more.  I thought about the loved ones I have lost and the blank despair your heart feels, just like one of the characters in the movie.  I related to Cécile De France’s character in her search for meaning of her experience – how many of us have a “secret” we are trying to give meaning to in our lives? And then Matt Damon’s character that struggles with his “gift” – is it a blessing or a curse?  Ever wondered that?
I love Eastwood’s movies.  I like the way he patiently moves you into his characters, until you know them, relate to them.  I just sat back and enjoyed each nuance of the 3 main characters and their stories that intertwine throughout the movie – it was a quiet pleasure with a hint of sadness mixed throughout, then blossoming into a cool breeze of joy…life is kinda like that, don’t ya think?
Love and peace…always!
Sandy

And speaking of simple, cooling, natural things – here is a quick story I want to share that I read not long ago that really spoke to me – it is from my daily calendar that is filled with stories to ponder, thoughts and meditations on letting go and just “being”

“Behind a temple was a vine with many squashes growing on it.  One day a fight broke out among them, and the squashes split up into angry groups, making a big racket.  Hearing the uproar, the head priest went outside, saw the quarreling, and scolded them: “HEY! Squashes! Why are you fighting? Now- everybody do zazen (meditation as practiced in Zen Buddhism).”  The priest taught them how, showing them how to fold their legs and sit up straight, and as the squashes began to follow the priest’s instructions, they calmed down and stopped fighting.  “Now”, the priest said, “everyone put your hand on top of your head”.  When the squashes felt the top of their heads, they found something attached there, which turned out to be the vine that connected them all together.  “What a mistake!” the squashes said, realizing their predicament.  “We’re actually all tied together, living just one life!”.  From that moment on the squashes never again fought.”

This story stopped me in my tracks.  I was taught this growing up as a preacher’s kid, Jesus teaches that we are all one – love your neighbor as yourself.  And I believe that.  But when I look at this practically, not religiously or spiritually, I see that we really are one community of living human beings  –  we share the same need for love, the same hurts and despair, same pains, same need for food and shelter and dignity, etc.   Stop and think about that – soak it in, put away your preconceived ideas of “how” we are suppose to be and look at the fact that we are all connected by this “vine of life”.  I can see it bringing greater tolerance and peace….and binding us to each other!
My takeaway from this?  We are one.  Let’s stop warring, fighting over this and that – we will never ALL agree on EVERYTHING and that is quite ok  – but if we stop, silence our thoughts and be still, we will understand…. and maybe if we ALL THINK RAIN, it will come!  ; )

Love and Peace!
Sandy