All Things Come Together

 "When you think yours is the only true path you forever chain yourself to judging others and

narrow the vision of God.  The road to righteousness and arrogance is a parallel road that can

intersect each other several times throughout a person's life.  It's often hard to recognize one road

from another.  What makes them different is the the road to righteousness is paved with the love

of humanity.  The road to arrogance in paved with the love of self."

SHANNON L. ALDER

There is a great deal of emphasis right now encouraging us to recognize every individual with respect. We are being called to 'wake up' and truly see the diversity in each other without judgment or fear.  By working together we will learn a peaceful existence. 

To respect, one must understand and listen open heartily.    To respect does not mean to condone nor support, but to have an informative sense of what is being valued.  When we view the core of any situation, there is insight into the reactive behavior.  With compassion, we begin to see each other as human beings, not enemies.

If we are each given the exact same map, we will not all follow the same route.  Some may stray quite far off the markings on the map, while others may follow it precisely.  Experiences will be different and the roads will cross more than we realize.  

If we are deliberately following the map one dot to the next, we may miss lovely landscapes or magnificent waterfalls,  We may be the first to arrive, but our experiences will be very limited.  If we have wandered from the perfect route upon the map, we may arrive last quite disheveled, but with a bounty of information.  One is not better than the other, just different.

If we each take our maps and cut away areas we did not travel, then piece together each route taken by others, we would find ourselves creating a design similar to a patchwork quilt.  When we view the completed design, we are reminded of how all things come together in spite of our efforts to make all things the same.