NO MAN IS AN ISLAND

"No man is an island, entire of itself.

Each man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.

 If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less.

As well as if a promontory were.

As well as if a manor of thine own or of thine friends were.

Each man's death diminishes me, for I am involved in mankind.

Therefore, send not to know for whom the bell tolls.

It tolls for thee."   John Donne, 1604

This is one of my favorite poems, and I think the part that speaks the loudest to me is "for I am involved in mankind." Because we are all connected, I appreciate the concept of being involved in mankind. We are all a piece of the continent, a part of the main.  John Donne obviously understood this. 

For thousands of years, sages, adepts, and poets from all cultures have understood that the entire universe is a whole, living entity, which means all things are connected. Nothing is separate as it appears to human perception, everything is interlocked.

Max Planck, the father of quantum theory, described a universal field of energy that connects everything in creation. He called it The Divine Matrix and described it as a container that holds the universe, a bridge between all things and a mirror that shows us what we have created.

There was a time when humans lived closer to the land, to each other and to our creator. People then understood the sacredness of life and there was a sense of balance in the world. Then people began to forget, and in their forgetting they felt separate from the earth, each other and their creator.

There was a time, not that long ago, when neighborhoods were communities. People lived closer and relied more upon each other. We knew our neighbors names, children played together in the streets and backyards, we borrowed sugar and milk from each other, and we understood the value of caring and sharing.

Slowly, humanity has moved away from the concept of togetherness and connection; we've learned how to make war with each other and our environment. It's like we each live in a little world separate from others. 

True peace comes from knowing we are all part of something greater than Self, a piece of the continent, a part of the main, and we are all connected to the whole.

In this technically oriented, "progressive" (or so they say) world we live in, we may be more connected electronically, but heart-wise and relationship-wise, we are part of a great disconnect.

If we want to live in a world where we are involved in mankind, it is important that we reconnect with that which matters. The way I see it, what matters is love, forbearance and compassion.

How do we reinstill these values in the minds and hearts of the world at large? I believe we do it one step at a time.

Instead of a text or an email, pick up the phone and call someone.

Vow to make your dinner table a no phone zone, and practice talking to each other and listening to what is being said. Engage with each other,

Visit someone today, just because.

Send someone a card with a hand-written note letting them know how special they are and that they matter.

Take care of yourself, love and nurture yourself, and do all you can to let others know they are important and that you care.

I honestly do not know how we can thrive and survive as a society if we are not willing to be inclusive and loving. It is important for us to see each other for our humanity and get past our differences. We can each do our part in putting the pieces of the whole back together again. Starting today we can remember, "No man is an island" and what affects one, affects all. Make a change!!  Make a difference!!