Coming into my realm of experience is a greater number of people talking and writing about how important it is to be connected to Something Greater than Ourselves. It feels as if we have tapped into a growing dynamic as people search for ways to deal with an uncertain and seemingly insane external world. Perhaps I am just paying attention in a different way as I explore through these essays.
In earlier essays, I write about different beliefs, dynamics, concepts, and all-encompassing entities that many people accept, either consciously or unconsciously, as Something Greater and to which they feel aligned and included. This alignment may satisfy a primal human need to belong to a tribe, and for some, may be all they seek – a sense of belonging and safety. For others, it can be a connection of spirit and energy that gives meaning to their lives. For many, this connection helps them deal with the eternal question, “Why am I here?”
It's important to respect and accept others’ beliefs in Something Greater. As noted in earlier essays, this is a site dedicated to concepts of Something Greater that are loving, life-affirming, creative, generative, balanced, caring, and powerful. If one feels connected to something of death, destruction, control and domination, these readings do not apply. Our readers are here to take our connection into the world and grow wiser, stronger and kinder.
It’s time to say more about the connection. What do I mean by being connected to Something Greater? How does it look, feel, sound, appear, and produce? One can say I believe in Something Greater than myself and I know it exists. These are great words, but how do we differentiate this feeling from indigestion? How do we gain confidence to choose and act from our connection? Take the step into the unknown because we “know”?
The quote above describes well what I term as “knowing.” I was once lucky to have a spiritual teacher who put it to me straight: “Are you going to listen to your own knowing or to everybody else?”
The sense of connection is personal. Each person must recognize it in their own unique way. Words are limited. It is a sense, often called a feeling in one’s bones or an overflowing of the heart. When we witness the birth of new life – from a child to a seed – all miraculously unfolding and blossoming from the tiniest molecule, we know there is divine wisdom and intention to create. And we know we are part of it all.
There may be common ground once a person accepts that they may not be able to prove to anyone else that this Something Greater exists. Below is an excerpt of dialogue spoken by the main character in the movie, CONTACT based on the novel written by Carl Sagan. The movie is a favorite of mine, and I recently watched it again. I was extremely surprised at the language as it describes so well how it feels to be connected.
“I had an experience. I can’t prove it. I can’t even explain it but everything that I know as a human being, everything that I am tells me that it was real. I was given something wonderful, something that changed me forever. A vision of the Universe that tells us undeniably how tiny and insignificant - and how rare and precious we all are. A vision that tells us that we belong to something greater than ourselves. That we are not- that none of us - are alone. I wish I could share that. I wish that everyone, if even for one moment, could feel that awe and humility and hope.”
From the film, CONTACT, 1997, Warner Bros. Entertainment
The main character is a woman scientist, and it is difficult for her to say that she cannot prove that her experience was real. This depth of connection may only happen once in a lifetime, but we can hold it as our Truth. We can meditate, enter into silence, and open our hearts and minds to strengthen the connection – to again feel that intense and extreme sense of rightness, magnificence, and peace. We learn to trust in the existence and purpose that is greater than just this place and time and let meaning come to us from that place of knowing and trust.
As the connection deepens and strengthens, it becomes an awareness that we maintain in our daily lives so that we choose and act for a higher good. We can access wisdom and expanded knowledge, because we are part of this greater energy and intention. For some, intuition and instinct are considered the connection to Something Greater upon which a person builds the ability to recognize and act.
It is my contention that we have been given an amazing opportunity in this particular place and time to evolve as beings connected to the creative, generative, loving unknown. And it is much simpler than we have been taught. Forget changing the whole world. Forget being an influencer. Be a good, decent, honorable human being in all your actions and interactions. Bring your unique talents, skills, knowledge and potential to your work and lifestyle in a life-affirming way.
It seems unlikely we can create better living conditions, health and opportunities to grow and evolve for more people in the current political, social and economic systems. This does not mean we need throw away or destroy all that we have now, including the potential of us. We make ourselves better – the models of what the world can be. Our micro-environments form the new macro-environment by being.
We bring the best of ourselves in partnership with the unseen energetic force that is Life to each moment, each task, each choice with the intention of thriving. You know how you should eat and move your body to gain greater health and strength. Clarifying your mind and body with nutritious clean food, time in silent contemplation, being in Nature, laughing and loving others – is guidance we receive all the time. These are steps to greater awareness.
We are not here to learn how to demean and control others and life. We are here as part of Life – gifted participants indeed in our intelligence and abilities – but still only one small part. It is so much more fun to lift myself and others up than to bring them down. We are responsible to use our expanded understanding and evolving connection to the forces of energy to create and operate aligned with life – not make it fit our limited mechanical brain functions.
Remember what you really know. Trust yourself and trust God as you know It. Live from that knowing and you change the world for the better with every choice.
Thank you.