Dear friends,
Many times I have heard it said that we create our own world,
And I have to say that until a few days ago,
This never struck me as being how things really are.
For some reason,
The idea seems far removed from reality,
And I have to admit that I couldn't understand it.
And then,
Only days ago,
I realised how true this thought is.
The penny finally dropped,
As they say,
And I began to think of how decisions which we made in the past have given rise to the circumstances in which we find ourselves today.
An example would be,
Someone decides to ask someone out for a date.
The answer is yes,
And the meeting is successful.
The pattern of the world for this couple is utterly changed.
A new way of living has begun,
And new relationships are established.
The planet hasn't been changed,
Or so it seems,
But the world occupied by the couple has been changed,
As has the world occupied by all those who know and love them.
In a strange way,
These interactions have an effect far and wide,
And who knows how far and how wide.
The same applies to all our decisions.
A new job,
Moving to a new place,
A change of direction.
Maybe it's time for a short pause,
A one-minute pause for reflection.
So take a moment to settle.
Relax.
Feel your body resting just where you are.
Relax and allow everything to just be.
Welcome back.
The simple truth is this.
You and I are the sum of all that has brought us here.
Every choice,
Every chance meeting,
Every decision,
Every joy,
And yes,
Even every disappointment.
Everything has played a part in shaping the persons we have become.
Think of the long unbroken chain of events,
Stretching back to the beginning of time itself.
All that happened to unfold for you and I to be here today.
Our presence here is extraordinary and wonderful.
The result of a succession of chances beyond calculation,
Like winning the lotto every single day for a thousand years.
Yes,
Most of the circumstances of life are far beyond our control,
But how we respond to the circumstances is within our control,
And this is what counts.
In our responses to these external circumstances,
We alter the possibilities that are open to us,
And we alter the future in which we will live.
Realising this,
We come to understand that our future happiness is also something that we create by our actions in this present moment.
This wonderful present moment,
Filled with every possibility.
Noticing at last the possibilities open to us,
What can we do but stand in awe and wonder and gratitude?
As we face the magic of this new day,
Let us be mindful of the fact that we are builders,
We are architects,
Building a home in which we will live tomorrow.
May that home be a place of brightness and love,
Warmth and peace and happiness,
And all the good things that we would wish for ourselves and for those we love.
Namaste
