This life journey provides us with an opportunity to join hands with those on many differing paths as we walk together to the top of mountain that is our Source. It's an opportunity to honor our Source, together, in harmony. This means we must honor and respect all belief systems. The thought that continues to amaze is that Spirit - or God, Allah, Creator, Source, whatever name you're comfortable with - in it's incredible wisdom, has created so many different paths leading to truth.

Most everyone is familiar with the Golden Rule. Take a minute to see how the Golden Rule is applied around the world. See if you can find the common threads in this quilt of many colors, languages and beliefs.

- Baha'i - "Blessed is he who preferreth his brother before himself." - Buddhism - "Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful."
- Christianity - "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
- Confucianism - "Do not to others what you do not want them to do to you."
- Hinduism - "This is the sum of duty: do naught unto others that which would cause you pain if done to you."
- Islam - "No one of you is a believer until you desire for another that which you desire for yourself."
- Judaism - "Love your neighbor as yourself."
- Native American - "Respect for all life is the foundation."
- Sikhism - "Don't create hatred with anyone as God is within everyone."
- Taoism - "I am good to the man who is good to me; likewise, I am also good to the bad man."
- Wicca - "And it harm none, do what ye will."

Can you see the common threads? Although it's easy to declare that you honor all belief systems, know that this is neither a simple task nor is it an easy journey, for much is required of you. It means that you must refrain from the human tendency to judge others. You must suspend judgment about the quality of another's path. You must suspend judgment about the choices that others make for their lives. You must suspend your judgment of another's actions.

However, this doesn't mean that you should forego discernment. Nothing is further from the truth. Your eyes were made to see and your mind to think. When you see others acting in hateful, harmful and destructive ways, you have the right - and duty to the Source of all Good - to distance yourself from those people and their actions.

There are three primary aspects of our journey on this life plane that each of us must internalize and actively demonstrate in our lives if our journey is to be memorable. I'd propose that those three aspects are respect, love and acceptance.

It begins with respect for and appreciation of the beauty, balance and harmony of all of creation. Appreciation that everything on this physical plane is a manifestation of the divine mind. From the smallest, weakest and most seemingly insignificant things - the ferns, grasses and wild flowers growing among the trees; the small animals and insects that fertilize and pollenize the growing plants and provide nourishment to larger creatures; the rocks, soil, streams, wind and rain that provide the foundation for all living things - to the majestic beauty of the night sky with its countless millions of stars and galaxies, all functioning in perfect balance and harmony. To respect means to esteem. You demonstrate a respect for life, by showing a reverance for all things. By showing consideration for everything and everyone. Even if they're different than you are.

Then, to respect, add love. First comes self love. Not in a self-serving manner, but with the knowledge that we are all created in the image of the creator. Next, we must love all others, knowing that we are all fellow travelers on this spinning ball we call Earth. This love encompasses all of creation. Nothing is left out. It means loving the earth and all living things enough to protect them. You know this to be true. That the strongest - and unifying - force in the world is Love. It's the force that created and sustains all that is. Love does and will overcome all. Our journey of love means we must love enough to refuse to give in to hatred. I'm not suggesting that we love the despicable acts of those whose values reflect a complete rejection of love. But, I am suggesting that we refuse to join them by giving in to hatred. One of the basic laws of physics is that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. This isn't man's law. It's a basic law of creation. It's "God's" law. So, while we reject the acts brought on by those whose beliefs are rooted in a notion of a God of separation, know that this basic law of reciprocal action is even now taking place. It needn't be any one of our individual concerns or responsibilities. It's happening whether we approve or not. Our responsibility as aware souls is to send out our complete and unconditional love to the entire planet and all of its inhabitants.

Finally, our journey is one of acceptance. First, to accept - and love - yourself as a creation by and in the image of the Creator. To accept and be thankful for all the good that has been given to you. And, to accept others and the path that each person has chosen. Acceptance is the opposite of judgment.

Here's a truth of which you can be sure. Life isn't about the destination. The destination is ultimately the same for all of us. Some will reach it sooner than others. But, in the end, we'll all end up as dust. The importance of life is the quality of the journey. Your journey and mine. Now, it's your choice. Why NOT choose to make your journey audacious?

© 2001 Larry Brophy reprinted with permission

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