“We must all learn to live together as brothers or we will all perish together as fools.  We are tied together in the single garment of destiny, caught in an inescapable network of mutuality.  And whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly.  For some strange reason I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be.  This is the way God’s universe is made; this is the way it is structured.” 
~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

How many times have you experienced meeting someone, felt a deep connection, chemistry that was inspiring and real – kind of like an amazing first date – where, of course, the possibilities between you will be further explored?

Then, no follow up, no call, no commitment to what was discovered and even what was said?  A kind of spiritual promiscuity and amnesia…  In our post-modern world we have been that way sexually, in our marriages, in many areas of life, justifying it with ‘going with the flow’,  ‘following our bliss’ and ‘being in the moment’.  Listening deeply to what is real and where the path of your destiny lies is important, deeply important.  But there’s something that’s been added that we need to pay attention to.  There a built in justification for not realizing the influence we are having on each other and on our own integrity.  I notice, that I have to recover from those interactions and it takes real work to continue to be open and resilient – loving and willing to engage.  It can be disheartening and energetically exhausting.   I don’t see it as an individual character flaw – but rather culturally a place where we need to grow up together.

Remember a time when you were trying to do something that was hard for you, something that really mattered but it was a risk, and where you could easily give up.  See if you can remember one person who really showed up for you, believed in you and took actions that genuinely gave energy and momentum to what you were doing?  It can mean everything at the right moment – change destiny.  It’s profound how our real love and support influences each other.  We affect each other – we are “tied together in a single garment of destiny” – we need each other to move to the next level.  There’s no way around it – thank God..

I know that we cherish our freedom – the freedom to do whatever we want to do and the freedom to not recognize the influence and impact we are having.  Can we expand and include our love for each other, our profound connectedness, and be more thoughtful, sensitive and considerate?  Can we grow into the power and influence we have?  The kind of destiny and vision I’m interested in isn’t something I can create by myself, for myself anymore.  A greater vision that unfolds into the unknown has to include others who are not only inspired but committed to themselves, the vision and each other.

With love and appreciation always,

Patricia