Allargando of the soul

“Humankind has not woven the web of life.  We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.  All things are bound together.  All things connect.”  (Chief Seattle)

___________________

A wise teacher once told me

“you can never do just one thing”

Every action has consequences

Every life has consequences

Every life, with its actions

Good and bad

Is part of the fabric of life

(to mix metaphors, something my English teacher warned me against

              I’ll face the consequences)

A thread which can hold the fabric together,

And make it whole

A which can pull apart

And unravel and threaten the whole

“Me First”

“America First”

“Business First”

These are words which reminds us that all too often

We do not take seriously our connectedness

In our pursuit of power or wealth

Safety and security

We are willing to forget that we are part of a greater whole

The US is one nation among many

I am one person among many

I am one race among many

I am one gender among a variety of identities

I cannot, blindly

Insist on what benefits me,

Without first considering what benefits those around me

More

What benefits the entire fabric that is creation?

Not just my people, all people

Not just people, all creatures, insects, birds, snakes, mammals, fish, all

All trees, and grasses and flowers

The air, the water, the earth itself

All

Does what I want, does what I do

Help or hinder,

Heal or harm?

Perhaps we need a little allargando of the soul

A slowing, a broadening

A swelling of the spirit

That reminds us of that larger Truth,

That draws us into the song of Love

That we are called to sing

At the top of our lungs