YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW

George Fox once said, “Walk cheerfully over the world answering that of God in everyone.”  What does it mean to answer that of God in everyone?  Harvey Gillman shares an insight in his Essay, What is Spirituality.  He says, “There is a seed or a light in each of us.  That seed often lay dormant, the light often dim.  The role of one human being for another is that we help the seed in each other grow; we help the light to shine.  But before we can do that we must actually see each other.  We must give each other attention as each is unique, precious; a child of God…The deepening of the spiritual life of the group arises from the sharing of story.  Each story is important.  All people have their stories. We need others to hear our stories and care.”

It is my personal experience and many observations of other people lives that have led me to the conclusion that people want to be really known; not just recognized in a crowd, not just snapshots of what they do in certain instances.  It is built into the hearts of people to be truly known in the context of their full lives; known in the context of their life story.

This was easier in the former days when people lived their lives with one another; when their lives were centered in their families and communities.

The world has changed and I believe we have lost something very precious and necessary to a fulfilling life; being truly known by others and truly knowing one another.

I believe that knowing each other’s story is a key to the process of sowing the seeds of friendship. You reap what you sow.  I desire to cultivate a hospitable heart and a personal presence to friends, strangers, and enemies.

I want people to know that I want to hear what they say. I want people to hear what I say.  It is in these conversations that love, peace, and understanding are cultivated.