In a recent conversation with a mother of a teenage girl, the mother lamented that her daughter was always borrowing her make up. As a result, Mom had to search time and time again for her cosmetic supplies. As a solution, she purchased her beloved daughter a stockpile of beauty supplies of her own. Other mothers chimed in expressing their exasperation with teen daughters wearing their clothes without asking and lamented finding their shoes on their teen’s feet!
The conversation was so typical for raising teens however there was an aspect these dear moms missed. As our teens begin to stretch their wings and learn to fly, they also desire the closeness and connection to mom or dad. Yes, they want to become their own person and our teens may never admit this because it is a yearning that lies below the conscious mind. It is a representation of our oneness, our eternal connection with another. As parents and parental figures, we have been the lifeline to young ones.
This seemed to make sense to the younger moms when I described my visits home with my mother. Even as an adult I would raid her shoe closet and each day of my visit I would have a different pair of her shoes on. I surprisingly found great comfort in wearing Mom's shoes, even when she was by my side for meals or walking through the mall shopping. Hearing my tale was familiar to the other women and it rang true for them as well.
We are the humanity of one. We think of ourselves as an individual and we do have an aspect that is uniquely ours, yet in the broader perspective, we are one. Creator and creation are one which means to me that each of our individual expressions are of the same One. It is this connection with others and our Creator that we seek to kindle and retain. Remembering oneness is a dynamic benefit of my time in silence and my mediation practice.
The connection that our young people seek and demonstrate by wearing our clothes and using our beauty products is another demonstration of seeing oneness. Ephesians 4:6 expresses it in these words “One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all”.
I hear a deep and rich sharing of the idea of our oneness, our interconnectedness, our shared celebrations and sorrows, our belonging to one Source when I read I Corinthians 12:20-26
As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand,
“I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”
On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,
and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the
parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable
parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater
honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but
that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every
part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
During these months of shelter in place and social distancing, some have shared their challenges in seeking connection. This is our innate desire to express our oneness with Creator and with each other. Moms of teens may continue to buy them their own stockpile of beauty products and don’t be surprised if you also continue to find that yours has gone missing – it’s a thing!
As we move through these days, continue to seek new and inventive ways that you might stay connected with others. Being connected is fulfilling our nature of oneness, the reason we cry with others in times of sadness, and the reason we laugh and celebrate with others in joy.
There is a song I learned as a child that reminds me of this. You may have heard the song also.
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord
And we pray that our unity will one day be restore
And they’ll know we are God’s beloved by our love.
In the true spirit of oneness, I say Namaste’: my soul honors your soul, I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides. I honor the light, love, truth, beauty, and peace in you because it is also within me. In sharing these things, we are united, we are the same, we are one.
Know that I am here for you. Know that I am here with you,
Love,
Rev. Karen