“I’m feeling so bright and bountiful, I gotta wear my shades.”
There is a 17th century poem called “No Man is An Island”, written by John Donne. In today’s language it would be more appropriate to say, No Person is an Island but the wisdom is simple and straightforward…really none of us stands alone:
No person is an island,
Entire of one’s self,
Every person is a piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
We are all interconnected. And today with all of our high tech connectivity, it seems to be even more true.
In Kundalini Yoga, we have a phrase that we often use….”Longing to Belong”. We are, most of us, in effect hard wired to want to be connected…to find our group, our tribe. We are social beings. Whether it is virtual or real is not important….we just want to connect. There is a mantra “Ang Sang Wahe Guru” which loosely translated means, every cell of my being vibrates with infinity. Or, I am one with, or in complete balance with, infinity…
Which brings me to this blog’s, theme….Support. I know that, o.k., if I absolutely had to perhaps I could do this alone but I could not imagine doing that unless it came to absolutely having to. So I seek support and I am blessed to have found and attracted a most wonderful support group. In a large sense, that is all of you who read this. I know that you send love, prayers, healing energy, positive projection etc. And to be completely honest that is a large part of why I do this…to connect and get your support. At times it can be overwhelming but it is always humbling and uplifting.
Here is a wonderful poster that someone sent me. I receive and send this back to all of you. I love it!
But most importantly, my support begins at home…my wife, Sada Sat Kaur. I wrote about a year ago at the time of our 43rd Anniversary, that 43 years ago, I won the lottery when I married her. Well, I now know that I win it every day and multiple times every day.
I don’t know how she does what she does. She is always there, always positive, always smiling, prods me when I need to be, takes none of my BS if I start going in that direction. She keeps me strong. She is my rock, she is my hero and I have to say she is a saint. At least, she is my saint. She is petite but she has a strength that is unfathomable and I can only hope that if and when called upon, I can find such strength in myself. I think I’ll have to dig pretty deep.
She also has the ability to attract. She too knows that she cannot “go” it alone so she has created a group of at least a dozen close local friends that will really do anything in their power to help. Also, there is the whole local medical community of doctors, nurses and technicians who are actually miracle workers of kindness and healing that have kept me going these past 18 months and continue to do so.
Beyond that, there is family who is phenomenal and provide so much emotional support. And then, extended global family of so many thousands that we have met throughout so many years of traveling and teaching. I am incredibly blessed.
And in that is one of the unexpected blessings of becoming ill. No matter what that challenge may bring…the realization of how much love there is and how much caring and support continually come my way. For that, I am eternally and immeasurably grateful.
It reminds me of my mother. A little aside on that…I was raised super Catholic…the true test of that as with so many Catholic boys, I believe my mother was a saint. At any rate, my mother died relatively young at 57 years old. As she was in her final stages of life, my mother’s sister asked her, “Mary Grace (told you she was a saint), how do you stay so positive in all of this.” And my mother responded to her sister by saying “Marty, because, I’m half way to heaven.” Well, I have a long way before that may happen, as we all know I will be victorious in my healing journey and plan on many more decades on this planet with all of you. But my mother’s ability to express gratitude in her time of challenge is to me what it is all about and for that lesson from her I am always grateful. She lived to her name…the Grace of Mary and at this month of Easter and Passover, I find that particularly poignant.
So…back to my theme of “Support”. I would not and perhaps could not do this alone. None of us is an “Island”. Reach out, connect in some way and let the universe support you. In the simple words of Louise Hay, whose affirmations I love and use constantly…”Everything I need comes to me.” Sometimes, I repeat it hundreds of times a day. And when I allow it, it is true….everything I need does comes to me. And when I remember that, it is a life changer. There is a poem called “Matins” written by an Irish writer John O’Donohue that expresses how I feel when I fully embrace the support of the universe. Here is a part of that poem:
“I arise today
Blessed by all things,
Wings of breath,
Delight of eyes,
Wonder of whisper,
Intimacy of touch,
Eternity of soul,
Urgency of thought,
Miracle of Health,
Embrace of God.
May I live this day
Compassionate of heart,
Clear in word,
Gracious in awareness,
Courageous in thought,
Generous in love.”
And like this, I feel the love and support of the Universe in every breath and every step.
In the words and wisdom of “Sam and Dave”, “you didn’t have to love me like you did but you but you did and I thank you”….
So when the Universe loves you and gives its support, just remember to say “I thank you”. More always comes.
Love, light and blessings to you all,
Sada Sat Singh