AN EASTER SPRING

Lenten Rose

AN EASTER SPRING

Psalm 24:1 The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it the world, and all who live in it.

Native people say they did not distinguish between the physical and supernatural because everything was viewed as a vast  continuum, whether it be animate or supernatural, the world existed in 'real time' and in a conscious state of existence.  Every living thing was a member of one large family, the elements- earth, air, fire and water- plants, animal and human worlds were connected to each other in complex ways.  The storytellers passed on this 'real' life to the people so that all would live in perfect harmony with all other living beings.

This is not far from the Orthodox teaching of 'perichoresis' or coinherence of all things.  Bishop Kallistos Ware writes in his book, The Orthodox Way:  "I cannot contemplate with nature or God without learning to be present where I am, gathered together at this present moment, in this present place.  Stop, look and listen." 

We stand on holy ground.  "This material object, this person to whom I am talking, this  moment of time - each is holy , each in its own way unrepeatable and so of infinite value, each can serve as a window into eternity." If we are sensitive to God's world around us, we become more conscious of God's world within  ourselves.  We begin to see our" own place as a human person within the natural order."

photo Kimberly Harding

A new show on FOX, Touch, has an interesting theme. Kiefer Sutherland talked about the attraction of the show and the Red Thread of Fate connection that underpins Touch.  " At the beginning of the story we discover Martin who has a son named Jake who in the course or our story we realize has been misdiagnosed with severe autism and in fact is actually just a truly, truly evolved human being that is years and years beyond where my character is and our society is at. And in an effort to communicate with my son, I discover that he has this unbelievable skill set that allows him to interpret numbers and symbols in a way that kind of explain our past and to some degree predict our future and that’s where we start the show off. My journey, very much like the Chinese fable that the story is based on, which was called, “The Red Thread” and the red thread is basically a red thread that is loosely looped around the ankles of all the people that are supposed to come in contact with each other over the course of a lifetime. This thread can stretch and it can bend, but it cannot break, and somehow in our society we have broken this and my son is taking me on a journey to try and put the thread back together."

Facebook, the Internet, show people who understand connection of humans with each other and with nature.  They are the keepers of the Red Thread.  Every day I see postings about protecting our oceans, plant life, animal welfare and rescue, food banks, shelters for the homeless, action against human trafficking, battered women. People are speaking out, giving of their treasure to help the world. I do think the consciousness and conscience of the world is being awakened.  We are beginning to understand that all of nature is connected, and that with God as mediator, we humans must do what we can to protect the connection. 

So happy Spring!  Happy Easter! I believe it is more than coincidence that the two coincide.  New beginnings!  People have celebrated the Vernal Equinox ages past. Still today celebrations go on in woods and fields where people gather to dance and marvel at Creation and the Creator.  Let's all do the same tomorrow!