Peace and Love, Profound Universe!

The day already seems like a roller coaster.  I awoke, and before getting out of bed was remembering, for some unknown reason, the joyful experience of watching a little girl a few winters ago, on a trip my wife and I took to New York City.  The word delight came to my mind, describing the episode.  More about that in a moment.

When I got up, my wife began our day by re-telling the story of where she was for 9-11.  She also shared an article about a young man who died while rescuing many others in one of the Towers.  She then asked me where I was.  We have discussed our stories before, but I shared mine again.  It was upsetting, and triggered a lot of emotion.

Separately, my earlier memory of the little girl, and the sense of delight, seemed far away, adrift in time and space.

When I think of 9-11, I also remember an editor’s note I read in an outdoors magazine a month or two after.  The editor wrote about how he was out in the wilderness on an extended backpacking trip, and was out of communication; so, he didn’t hear about the events, and wasn’t inundated with the images and sensory overload, for a week or more.  It was when he returned that he learned what had happened, but he recognized that he was disconnected with so many who were raw and frayed by what they had seen, feeling like eye-witnesses to the tragedy.

He carried a different perspective, having had many days pass, and not being super-saturated with the raw horror and emotion of the coverage; but, also seeing a juxtaposition with the wonder and wild he had been experiencing at the same exact time.

The two events, and so many more, did exist at the same time.  Other people died around the world, and many lives begun, as well.  So much.  All at once.  Always.

And, that little girl.  Dancing and smiling at people.  Loving when they smiled and laughed back, connecting.  Sad, each time a person passed by but failed to notice her.  Until the hope of the next person would lift her again.

It didn’t seem to be a “Look at me!” thing.  She loved the connection in the moment – They see me!  They see me seeing them!  How wonderful!

For me, I saw little Buddha Nature.  Yes, I walked by, and we smiled and laughed together, in that moment.

Today’s Prompt:

Dear One, I wish for you to recognize that our world holds all things within it.

When you are seeing challenges and suffering, know that there is also love, beauty, and wonder.  There are smiles and laughter, even when there are tears and pain.

Take some time today, perhaps at your sit spot, to locate, through your heart, your peace within.  Allow it to show you that you are well, right now, and open your heart to shine your smile and your light with the world.

Thank you, Dear Guides, for reminding me to Shine My Light with the World!