Trees in a Forest
“The practice of spirituality is a way of looking at a world where you're not alone.”
— Rick Rubin
Dear Friends,
Spirituality is defined in different ways. I like Rick Rubin’s definition above.
Where do we find a sense of spirituality today?
Nature
One of the beauties of nature is that we are invited into an experience of belonging or spirituality. The forest could care less about our accomplishments, degrees, or how many successes or failures we have had. It receives us as we are.
All the trees, the ferns, the plants, have a place. They all make up the forest.
Now imagine if someone gave a score to each one of the trees. “You look good so you are an eight, this other tree not so much, so you are a three.”
What was a beautiful forest becomes a world of comparison and separation. A sense of spirituality and belonging is lost.
Most people would think:
“That is horrible. Trees should not be judged and rated. Let us just enjoy the beauty of the forest. You cannot put a number on a tree!”
Social Media
On every platform I know, you are given a number and everything you post is given a number. If it makes no sense to rate a tree, why would would support rating a person, especially teens?
There is only one reason for the ratings: it keeps people hooked.
Of course, we cannot blame social media completely. It has benefits too, and there was comparison, discord, and division in the world long before the platforms existed.
But it helps to ask: “How are we supporting spirituality today? And why might our young people be so depressed?”
We all need to feel that we belong, that we are worthy, not because what we know or what we have, but because of who we are.
Try This
So as we meet people today, what would it mean to receive each person as the forest or desert or sky receives us? Of course, we know their name or title or role in the world … but we also see more than that.
A friend told me about a beggar that once pulled on his friend’s pants in India asking for money, and the person looked at him kindly. And the beggar responded, “When you see God in everyone, everyone will see God in you.”
We can still get frustrated, and pissed off, and hire and fire people … but we know we are all in Ram Dass’s words “just walking each other home.”
We are all just trees in a forest.
Also please join us in the Power of Presence Wisdom 2.0 Community to practice together.
Blessings.
So lovely 🙏🏻
❤️ this one.