Embrace Oneness—Thoughts on Religion & Culture

I am in love with every church
And mosque
And temple
And any kind of shrine
Because I know it is there
That people say the different names
Of the One God.
—Hafiz

I was listening to Dr. Wayne Dyer’s audio book—Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life—on my way to work this morning and he read the above poem from Hafiz. When I heard it, I was rendered speechless. My jaw dropped. My heart raced. These were the words that I had been searching for.

My thoughts about religion are difficult to explain. Like so many in my generation, I consider myself spiritual but not religious. While I respect each religion for its own intrinsic beauty, I have always found it difficult to identify myself in any one box. It was always difficult to express this sentiment… until now. The poem gives voice to my thoughts, as if it were pulled from my own heart.

I hope that this short poem inspires you the way that it inspired me.

I have also been meaning to share an extraordinary video that I came across awhile back. While it is not about religion specifically, it is about culture which goes hand-in-hand.

The speaker in the video is Wade Davis, a National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, who travels the globe to live alongside indigenous people, and document their cultural practices in books, photographs, and film. His message is eloquently spoken and of critical importance. Please take the time to listen to it in its entirety and to share it with everyone that you can.

(If you have trouble seeing the video is an RSS reader, please go here.)

In closing, I ask that today be a day that you open your mind and your heart to the Universe and all of the creatures within it. We are all one. We are all connected. And because we are all one & connected, our only responsibility throughout our time on this planet is to spread love & light. In giving, so shall we receive. ♥