embracing differences
comic by Chan Lowe @ www.list@myucomics.com
Jerome Green
This is a year of embracement and a very exciting time in our world. Come Tuesday, we will have a new President, but more importantly, we will have a new lease on life, increased hope and a plethora of new possibilities. The election of Obama came on the heels of a new wave of energy and spirit. This is the year that we will learn to embrace everything around us and this learning will be crucial in dealing with the issues of the economy, our families and life itself.
At Henry’s (my spiritual advisor) annual New Years Eve gathering, he discussed the principle of embracing others – even if you don’t get along, can’t give them what they want or don’t agree with them. Embracing someone is all about how much of your heart and luvv you are willing to give.
As I embraced this idea, I took a fresh look at several areas of my life. I examined how I interact with the many homeless people and beggars on the street. I thought about the times that I am asked for spare change and how I sometimes give it and others time don’t. When Henry was speaking on New Year’s Eve, he said that “Giving someone money doesn’t mean you have embraced him or her. You can give someone a strong embrace and it will do more for them than the little bit of cash you give them.”
I realized that if I give or don’t give money, that there are very few times that I have actually embraced the homeless. I may say hello or I speak to them, but most of the time I just get a little annoyed or wish they wouldn’t approach me. Years ago, Henry said to me “The more you luvv, the more alone time you will have.” People feel the power of luvv. Most people don’t want that much luvv coming their way so they leave you alone.
Henry’s comments about embracing others hit home for me. The embrace is not a hug. Hugs can be full of fake energy and can shut you and the recipient down. An embrace is the exchange of your heart to someone else’s heart. I saw this in action the other day. For the past year I’ve had a person I used to do business with call me and leave messages. As I was no longer interested in doing business with this person, I never returned his calls and I figured that he would “get the message” and stop calling me. The last time he called, I could hear the conscience speak to me and say “What did you just learn about embracing someone? Oh, by any chance would this be the time for an embrace?” So I called the person back, spoke to him and told him about embracing people more than ever this year. I confirmed that I was no longer in need of his services, but wanted to reach out to him. The next day I received a phone message and he spoke specifically about feeling the embrace and how important embracing was going to be for him this year.
In less than twenty-four hours we are going to have a new President. There is the anticipation of great change ahead. How you will direct the changes in your own life? How will you answer the call for change that President Obama has asked of each person in this country? It is our responsibility to do our part to lift our country out of its depression and to bring about more spirit and production. As we look upon this day, no matter what political, racial or economic affiliation you have, focus on who you owe. Embrace them and begin to bring your luvv to them. Some of it can be done “in the silence” or through your thoughts. The beauty of embracing others is that you don’t have to agree with them – just learn to luvv them and hold them in your heart. It will greatly assist us during these difficult economic times and will assist with the rebuilding of the worth of each individual in our country and the world.
Dwight Eisenhower, in his farewell address to the nation after his second term as President, had this to say:
“To all the peoples of the world, I once more give expression to America’s prayerful and continuing aspiration. We pray that peoples of all faiths, all races, all nations, may have their great human needs satisfied; that those now denied opportunity shall come to enjoy it to the full; that all who yearn for freedom may experience its spiritual blessings; that those who have freedom will understand, also, its heavy responsibilities; that all who are insensitive to the needs of others will learn charity; that the scourges of poverty, disease and ignorance will be made to disappear from the earth, and that, in the goodness of time, all peoples will come to live together in a peace guaranteed by the binding force of mutual respect and love.”
Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?
