June/July 2011
ON OUR DIFFERENCES AND HARMONY
One needs only to walk through the airport while waiting for a flight and cast their eyes around them to see the myriad of differences in all of us. There are those with blonde hair, brown skin, red skin, rounder, slimmer, taller, shorter and the list goes on with infinite possibilities. There are those whose clothing is colorful with plentiful jewelry, others with tattoos, and those who choose to be simple or blend into others. Each of us as extraordinary beings have a uniqueness that defines us in a way that is both fascinating and miraculous. We are all different and yet surprisingly we are all the same.
It is said that 99.99% of our genetic makeup as human beings is identical. This is incredible when you feast your eyes around you. In a world that looks for differences to define us, we are all very much the same. It is our egoic minds that will not let us see our similarities, our unity. Minds are the policemen judging our differences while seeing these differences as flaws. Yes, we look at our uniqueness as defective, and we do not see our differences as creating the beauty of humanity standing before us.
When you look at a wondrous garden, the flowers are each unique in their colors, shapes and sizes. It is how the flowers flow together that brings to our hearts the gasp of beauty our eyes behold. If we looked at a garden with only one kind of flower, all the same size, shape and the very same color, our eyes may be satisfied but our hearts will not rise to the beauty before us. We simply look away from this garden without comment. And yet, when we come to a garden with rows of uniquely different flowers, sizes, shapes and colors, we stand in awe at the way they flow together in perfect harmony and beauty. We call this breathtaking –for it takes our breath away, because our hearts beat in a new rhythm to this beauty; the consistent rhythm of God’s love.
We are different yet flow in unity. Harmony is the beauty of the fabric of the world. It is harmony that we each look to bring to our lives as diversity. When we are diverse in activities and interests, we are beautiful in our own way – yet united, by shining the light of God from within our hearts. This light of God connects us – this is what is the same about all of us whether we know it or we don’t. What is similar about us unites us, what is different about us is our beauty and harmony.
What our egoic minds focus upon grows larger and it is our differences that the mind sees first. We have been conditioned to use these differences against each other. It is our differences that come between us, it is our differences not sameness that we use as an excuse for war or dispute. Instead of looking at the beauty created by these differences in the garden of humanity, we look to these differences as being the problem with humanity. Groups of similar people find ways to isolate to avoid those different and prejudices are created. The beauty of harmony is lost to the whims of the egoic mind.
If we were to see our differences as the beauty in the garden of humankind, revere them and honor them in the true light of God’s diversity, they could be seen as the seeds for peace among us. For then we would be viewing each other with the inclusive eyes of the heart – God’s eyes – instead of the dividing eyes of an unforgiving egoic mind or false self. The false self knows nothing of the garden – it knows nothing of unity and beauty. Its job is to analyze and compare, to look for more and judge that which is less. It serves its purpose as a tool when it is asked. Its job is judgment, as if there were no God or a greater reality. It has no place as a judge in God’s garden.
Harmony is the beauty in the fabric of the world – judging our difference unravels our threads. If we are to be a tapestry of color and beauty, we must learn to thrive together knowing our differences as strengths not weakness. When we weaken those threads, we become weakened, and the vision of the garden unravels. We are God’s garden as humanity – wondrous colors united in Him. Why do flowers within this garden bloom? They have been asked to bring their unique fragrance and beauty to the world!
So when you choose to judge another for their difference, know they are as much a part of the garden as you are. When you judge them, you judge the garden, and most importantly you judge the Creator of the garden. Let go, and see difference as a strong thread that holds us together, instead of a weak thread that keeps us apart. Harmony is the beauty of the fabric of the world, if we honor it, we serve humanity well; if we fight it, we fight the harmony, beauty and infinite nature of God.
-Frannie Rose, June 1, 2011
