In many spiritual beliefs we are told that we are connected – that we are all part of the one Source of Life. This is generally referring to our connection with other humans and sometimes other animals. We are, in fact, connected in a myriad of ways. The rivers all over the world connect with the ocean where they merge and become one. Birds fly in formations, turning as one. Schools of fish, swarms of bees, and ants, too, become one to accomplish a purpose. Planets revolve around the sun, creating one universe. A person marries, has children and becomes a family, which is part of a family tree connecting him to all of his relatives. Our roads lead to highways, connecting to other highways across the country, from one end to the other. The blood vessels and nerves in our bodies connect our organs to each other so that they can operate as one whole body.
Everywhere you look, you will see that life is connected to life. In so many ways, life is interdependent upon life. No one thing or person can live completely independent of other life. Predators require prey. Plants require pollinators. We require each other. This makes you wonder why so many humans tell themselves that they are better than others, as a result of an inflated ego. Conversely, others believe themselves to be victims in an unjust world, which is also an attention getting ploy of the ego.
Our bodies can tell us more precisely when our beliefs are out of balance. Our wrong thinking, combined with negative emotions, results in sickness in the body. If our foot decided to hate our shoulder for some ill conceived notion, refusing to see their common connection, it would result in disharmony. If our stomach resented our heart, this would cause trouble in the harmonious workings of our body. How often do we criticize one another, assume an air of superiority, or seek to harm others, forgetting our connection and forgetting that we need each other? Whenever we feel out of balance, we should take time to observe Nature. We should gaze up at the night sky or watch a river slowly wind its way to the sea. Nature maintains its equilibrium and until human beings come to understand and accept that we are nothing more than a tiny link in the chain of life – not life itself – then we will not find lasting peace.
