Friday, August 18, 2017

One Moment in Time



Wednesday, a friend and I talked about the upcoming solar eclipse. We live within the total-eclipse path that stretches across twelve states—from Salem, Oregon, to Charleston, South Carolina. Those outside that path will observe a partial eclipse; here in Kansas City it will be total. At 1:09 PM, on Monday, August 21, the sky here will darken to night for two minutes and thirty-four seconds.

As we spoke, Zoe shared her thoughts about the possibilities the eclipse offered. As I remember, she brought up what happened in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Friday, August 18, 2017. There chanting white nationalists, neo-Nazis, and white supremacists marched with candles raised high. The night-time scene was reminiscent of many Klan blitzkriegs that ended in the death of black men. This march resulted in three deaths and thirty-four injuries. Decades, centuries of hatred, fear of being replaced, and hunger for power led to this homegrown terrorist violence.

Zoe went on to say that the Virginia violence resulted from human action. Humans caused it. But humans will do nothing to cause this eclipse. It is a phenomenon of nature. She believes that the fact that all of us here in the United States will view a partial or a total eclipse that is a natural—not human—happening could unite us, if only for a minute or two.

For two minutes, she said, we as one will view a rarity not of our making. Within that occurrence, there is no white or black, no heterosexual or bisexual or gay or lesbian or transgender, no Jew or Christian or Muslim or atheist, no pro-choice or pro-life, no poor or rich, no homeless or mansion dweller, no leader or follower, no peacemaker or terror-maker.

There is only all of us observing wonder—all of us being part of an astounding natural experience. Nothing will divide us during that time. We all—as one—will have the same awe-inspiring experience.

When we ended our conversation, I continued to ponder. I’m not a philosopher nor a deep thinker, but I do want to follow Micah’s words in the Hebrew Testament: “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (I don’t really use the word God any more as a personal being. I say “Holy Oneness of All Creation,” hoping to gather all of us into the word God.)

I thought of those white supremacists who marched in Charlottesville, those violent iconoclasts who fight for ISIS, and all those who seem to embrace hate at the deep center of themselves. In what way, could I act justly toward them? Here are the three things I can do right now from my home:

1.     During those two minutes and thirty-four seconds, as I gaze upward through my solar glasses, I’m going to send out into the Universe my deep desire that each of us—no matter our background—will begin to discover the depth of love that conquers fear and hatred, intolerance and rigidity. I am going to envision a world at peace—for however brief the moment.

2.     I’m going to remember daily and hourly that everything begins with one. One person gives peace to another. Tiny drops of water become One in the ocean of being. 

3.   I'm going to live that motto of the Southern Poverty Law Center: I will fight hate; teach tolerance; and seek justice as I live the rest of my life.

Peace.


(Zoe, if I misrepresent what you said, please leave a comment and correct my memory.)

Photograph from NASA.




24 comments:

  1. Increasingly I turn away from people and focus on the myriad of natural wonders. However, you are right. Everything does begin with one, and turning away is not the answer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear EC, when I contemplate nature and go out in its midst, I find the contentment that I hope will be seen as the peace I want to share with others. You do this too. I'm sure of it. Peace.

      Delete
  2. Dee, I too think thoughts are powerful. Perhaps if *everyone everywhere* would think thoughts of peace and love and oneness (even just for those 2 minutes), it could possibly have some sort of effect. However, I doubt if this is likely to happen... as *everyone everywhere* are not of like mind. But I am more than willing to do my part.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Rian, like Anne Frank I continue to believe in the possibility of goodness sweeping through our world. It sounds like you do too. Peace.

      Delete
  3. Reading my SPLC mailing this week we certainly are heading in the wrong direction for attaining peace, love and just. Still an optimist and one with nature person I hope you thoughts come to fruition. Incidentally we will be in KC with a bus tour from Minnesota to see the eclipse and then head west "on the trail of Lewis and Clark...:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Troutbirder, I just got my mailing this week also. I have to have my cups of tea while I read because my heart gets heavy. Like you, I'm an optimist so I continue to hope that light will shine in the darkness. Enjoy your trip down from MN. I made that trip many times in the 38 years I lived in Stillwater and came down here to visit. You'll be seeing "muddy Mo," which isn't far from where I live. Peace.

      Delete
  4. I will fight hate; teach tolerance; and seek justice as I live the rest of my life.

    So be it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Joanne, let's do it together--you there, me here. Peace.

      Delete
    2. All I can say to this is "Amen"!!

      Delete
    3. Dear Fran, yes! Joanne from her home base, you from yours, and me from here. One. Peace.

      Delete
  5. Thank you for this very uplifting post, Dee. I too will think of you and your thought to love one another during the partial eclipse I will see on Monday. I am also glad to see you back here on a regular basis. Blessings to you from me, always. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear DJan, I'm so enjoying being back in the blogging world. Your Sunday posting uplifts me each week and I especially bless you the day I read it. Thank you. Peace.

      Delete
  6. Your three things will become my three things also. If only---

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Patti, we are in this together. One + One. Peace.

      Delete
  7. This may be because I'm old and just getting over being really ill (kidney infection/diabetes issues) but I feel totally overwhelmed by the evil, the ignorance, and the fear that lives in white America. Trump became president, turned over a rock, and out came all of these, whatever they are, creepy crawlies, representing so much hate. Still, I love it here and I don't want to go home again. Thanks for this post, Dee.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Inger, I'm so sorry that you've been ill. I hope you are recuperating now. I, too, have felt overwhelmed by all that's going on in the United States and throughout the world. But I'm trying to hold on to the belief that out of all this turmoil some good will come. I need to believe that. Peace.

      Delete
  8. I have been one the path of acceptance since the day Buddy made me aware of the stares and glares at Down syndrome back in the 70's. We have a very long way to go before all are accepting. I am hearing people getting upset about refugees coming into our cities. It is so upsetting to hear people object at giving a helpful hand. We need more loving media programs and less shows with guns and fights. We are breeding trouble by what we are conxtantly pushing vis all the networks. Sadly violence sellsand that is the borrom line.
    I wish there was a global leader that was positive and able to reach all hearts globally. Some have tries but few have succeeded beyond borders.
    I shall be thinking of your optimism tomorrow. May the One be omnipresent as the earth turns.
    P.S. In Saudi it will mark the start of their time of holy pilgrimage with another Eid around September 1. Will it bring peace to them?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Heidrun, violence, as Stokley Carmichael said forty years ago, is as American as apple pie. And it seems to me that it just gets worse. But I need to hold on to my belief that by acts of kindness that stretch across the globe, slowly--ever so, so slowly--things will get better. People will be lifted up. Peace.

      Delete
  9. "we as one" Three words from your friend that encapsulates this solar experience. Zoe if the word for life!
    What a wondrous post this is, Dee, and what an experience the eclipse was. You are spot on - all begins with one. My own experience during the eclipse was as wonderful as it was hopeful as I gathered with a few friends and strangers to experience the eclipse. Peace.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Penny, I shared the experience with you! Peace.

      Delete
  10. Am I missing something here? How can you turn an eclipse of the sun into a religious experience?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Treey, I suppose the answer to your question is what do you mean by a religious experience? I was writing about becoming one with all viewers as we were looking at the same thing. Perhaps that is a religious experience. I think of it as a human one. Peace.

      Delete
  11. Beautiful post. I haven't given the eclipse very much thought and it's time to step back and embrace a moment outside ourselves of wonder. Peace and good wishes, Dee!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Carol, I listened to that song, sung by Whitney Houston, "One Moment in Time" and thought of its meaning with regard to the eclipse and all of us being one. That brings me peace. And I wish you peace today, Carol.

      Delete