We’re only human…or are we?

A tree is only a tree when it allows itself to be only a tree. A man is only a man when he allows himself to be only a man. What are you willing to be?

Hilarion

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How often do we define ourselves and others as being only something. Jesus was only a lowly carpenter. Rover is only a dog. Buddha was only an itinerant beggar. We are only human.

This is convenient and it makes it easier for us to understand other beings and situations. However, this sort of simple understanding is flawed in that it doesn’t account for the divine interconnection of the sharing. In divine reality, the only boundaries that exist are those we create in our minds.

Our physical bodies are made up or many different parts and organs, all of which are comprised of cells, all of which have atoms, all of which have subatomic particles. The individual particles, cells, and organs only truly are meaningful in their relationship together as a human body. In the same way, the sharing is made up of individuated units of consciousness that only reveal their beauty in relationship to each other.

We may believe that we, as humans, are separate from everyone and everything, but our purpose and relevance only become apparent in shared interaction. Just as the city limits of Boston are only conceptual—the physical world doesn’t end or change radically at the city limits—our separate nature as human beings is only conceptual, too. It is all in our heads, a product of our minds.

Many of the problems we decry in our world result from our separation beliefs. If we believed that harming another harmed us too, would there be war? If we believed that pollution defiled us, wouldn’t we cherish our natural environment more? If we believed that poverty and starvation limited all of us, wouldn’t we want everyone to have enough?

It is easy for us to look at the magnitude of the problems around us and say, “What can I do, I’m only one person.” But we are not only separate and individual people. We are an intrinsic part of divine interconnection. Everything we think, do, and say affects the entire sharing. When we try to treat ourselves and every other thing and being with respect, we change the nature of existence—for ourselves and for others. This is the simplest way to create beauty in our world.

We can begin by recognizing and connecting to our own divine nature—our sharing within. We’ll breathe gently and rhythmically while picturing golden light in our heart region. As we inhale the golden light strengthens, as we exhale it circulates through and around us. We will continue this visualization until we sense peace and certainty fill us. This is our sign that we are in conscious connection with our sharing within.

Once connected, let’s ask our sharing within to help us see ourselves as part of a divine, interconnected whole—the way the sharing sees us. We’ll continue breathing softly and feel our hearts start to ease and loosen. As the golden light shines out from our hearts, the boundaries we hold around ourselves will start to dissipate and we’ll sense our connection with other things and beings more easily. We will spend a few minutes basking in the golden light, enjoying the sense of knowing the divine in ourselves and all creation.

Then we’ll ask our sharing within to show us the one thing we think, do, or say that most inhibits our ability to sense divine interconnection in everyday life. We’ll ask for helpful suggestions on how to feel our connection to all existence more easily. We will indicate that we are willing to sense that we are part of a divine whole.

Finally, we’ll thank our sharing within for helping us understand our true, divine nature. We’re grateful to be more than merely human.

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Divinely unique and beautiful reader, how do you see yourself as more than just another person? Please share…