“We do not exist for ourselves alone, and it is only when we are fully convinced of this fact that we begin to love ourselves properly and thus also love others.”—Thomas Merton
Parker J. Palmer’s book, A Hidden Wholeness, taught me the Quaker practice of allowing space for the soul to speak. I am far from a master, but I try. I try to listen when others speak. Allowing (I sometimes prefer “creating”) space for the soul to speak goes beyond merely listening and patiently waiting for one’s turn to speak. It requires that we provide the opportunity for the speaker themselves to hear what they are saying—to learn what their soul is trying to speak to them, as well as to us.
Other-centeredness goes together with Spiritual well-centeredness. Spiritual wellness refers to our understanding that we are not the center of the Universe. It refers to an understand of Purpose. It goes beyond religion and teaches that GOD is love—that pure religion is to care for the widowed and the fatherless (those who are marginalized and abandoned; James 1:27).
We have lost sight of this as a society. We are increasingly self- and we-centered. The divide between us grows increasingly expansive. Until we realize that “we do not exist for ourselves alone” we will never be happy or function well as communities and nations.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow!
Carpe momento!!