There is no shortage
of wonderful books on the marvels of God’s creation, but Judy
Cannato blends the story of the universe into a very informative,
reflective, refreshing and challenging read. I quote briefly below from
chapter 12 of her book Radical Amazement.
The
new universe story invites us to expand our hearts to include all
creation. Indeed, connectedness is fundamental to our reality. No
matter what sphere of life we observe, from the physical to the
spiritual, we are connected to others. We cannot separate from this
truth, no matter how hard we may want to try. Albert Einstein called
the notion of separation an “optical delusion”, yet for several
centuries we have lived deluded, and at a great price. So Many of the
social and ecological problems that confront us today stem from our
delusion that we are separate from, better or more significant than,
other members of creation – from other groups of people we
encounter to the air we breathe. Our lack of openness to all may very
well mean our demise.
If
we are to expand our hearts to include all creation, we need to
embrace our capacity for communion. Relationship is something that
all life requires, even organic life. Our vitality depends upon the
connections we establish and the communion we share. Of course we are
made for agency, of course we are asked to develop our gifts and use
then well. But our gifts, as life-giving as their expression can be
for us, are foremost for others. This means we must reject a
perception of separateness and exclusivity that keep others at bay.
And it means we reject any temptation that keeps us from
self-communion, from tending to the Holy that dwells within. What
nourishes any of us, more that bread itself, is a relationship in
which we discover simultaneously who we are as we discover who the
other is. Communion that honours the other, that reverences the Holy
One in the other and in the self-this is what we embrace.
Connectedness is primary. Communion is essential.
(Judy
Cannato)
No comments:
Post a Comment