A Common Thread
Pain, courage, beauty, love
Yesterday I published an essay about a poem that was discovered at Aushwitz.
It was a Story of Hope
A Story of Defiance.
A story about having the courage to choose love.
I was overjoyed by this amazing response it received. And I felt so blessed that people are finding solace and comfort in that essay about the resilience of the human spirit.
But as I reflected on what I’ve written, from that place of deep fullness in my heart, I realized that there was more that needed to be said.
I became aware that what struck me the most about the words the presumably Jewish person chose to remember was that it was not a verse from the Torah or Talmud —
but the thoughts of a Muslim mystic.
For all our supposed differences, some experiences are universal. We are bound together by common threads that wind through the fabric of being, pulling tight, forever drawing us closer.
It speaks to how pain unites us.
Beauty unites us.
Love unites us.
I was reminded of when I learned of the words written in the diaries and letters of the fanatical freedom fighters who flew the planes into the twin towers.
Their thoughts and prayers revealed before taking actions that claimed the lives of more than 4000 people were Indistinguishable from those of any Christian, Jewish, Hindu, or Buddhist person. Or even any other religious or non-religious person who believes in a cause so strongly that they are willing to die for it.
They spoke of Family.
They spoke of honor.
They spoke of sacrifice.
They spoke of love.
Though we use different names, different terminology, split it up in various ways, we practice one religion, we follow one creator, one source, one in dwelling spirit - that in which we are connected. Where we live and have our being.
And here I find comfort - even in the most challenging of times.
I find hope.
We create these divisions.
Put up walls and imaginary lines.
We put ourselves into boxes and isolate ourselves in those.
We put labels on ourselves, thinking they define.
But they only obscure the truth.
In reality, they are illusions.
In reality, they don’t exist.
In reality, there’s only One.
In reality, there’s only God.
In reality, there’s only LOVE.
There’s only us.
There’s only this.
Forget regret,
Or life is yours to miss.
No other road.
No other way.
No day but today.
No Day But Today - Rent
How does it make you feel - this idea we’re all connected, even to those we think are our enemies? Warm? Loved? Conflicted? Angry?
Remember that there are no right answers. Whatever you think is okay. Whatever you feel is valid.
Sending Love and light
Aaron
Namaste 💙
https://youtu.be/O-w_RNchAsk?si=bmbu1q6zWrop2CAp
And in case you missed Yesterday’s post, you can read it here:
https://open.substack.com/pub/theeverydaymystic/p/the-sun-never-says?r=1migu6&utm_medium=ios
This is a beautiful reflection. It fills me with joy and hope to realize we are all connected, that we are one. I know it's painful to some to accept their connection to those who they may see as their enemy, but in my perspective, we are only enemies because of misunderstanding each other. Like you pointed out, the lines and walls are imaginary, we created them, and since we created them we also have the power within us to take them down.
Thank you for sharing this uplifting piece. 💛