Aligning with Grace

The world needs your kindness... And it needs mine as well... It needs ALL of our kind acts, if we are to survive as a nation and as a planet... I have been reflecting on this a lot of late, wanting so desperately to withdraw further from the world, and I've already done a good job of that. Yet, I cannot ignore so much of what I read that brings to mind the urgency of needing to change our directions - as peoples, as nations, as religious traditions, as leaders, and as the trampled and abused earth that we live on.  I am forced to weigh the impact of my actions, of my thoughts, of my words... The Dalai Lama has often written that kindness is his religion. He has taught that we do not need complicated philosophies or religions to abide by - we just simply need more kindness. We just need to exercise more kindness overall... The story of the Good Samaritan especially comes to mind here. A man of a different tradition and nation - chooses to make a difference - h...

I believe in unity... And I believe in diversity... I also believe there is unity in diversity... At the heart of things, I believe we are all one... Every woman, man and child on this planet, are interrelated... I believe in Dr. Spock's theology - that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few... I believe that we all want the same things - love, liberty, well-being, health - and the pursuit of happiness... I believe there is more that unites us - than divides us... I believe that at our core - we are all the same... I believe that we can all get along... I believe in community... I believe we can work together... The Dalai Lama once said - that he had never met a stranger... We can all be Good Samaritans... I believe we can reach out and touch one another - and that when we do - we touch ourselves... I believe this - because I believe in God - and I believe that each one of us - is made in the image and likeness of God... I believe in unity... And I believe in diversity...