“From the dust of the earth...the Creator has made Homo sapiens. From the same material he has made every other creature, however noxious and insignificant to us. They are earth-born companions and our fellow mortals."
~ John Muir
Snakes. Skunks. Spiders....
For many Homo sapiens, these are among the "noxious and insignificant" - things we fear, not revere.
The word for today is revere; the gift for today is (again) reverence. It seems to me that at the present time we need to cultivate and use more of this gift.
John Muir's quote brings to mind my granddaughter Alexis' favorite book: The Unhuggables: The Truth about
Snakes, Slugs, Skunks, Spiders, and Other Animals that Are Hard to Love. At age six, she and her twin brother, Anthony, both understand what John Muir is saying here, maybe not the words he used but the sentiment.
Snakes, slugs, skunks, spiders....bats, centipedes, cockroachs, and alligators too...they know enough to be cautious of them but bear no hate for them. In fact, they truly respect and value all creatures.
Maybe all young children do,
until they somehow learn not to, because we are all born with natural curiosity and wonderment, aspects of reverence.
Imagine of we all renewed this in ourselves.
Along with holding all Homo sapiens in high regard, let's open our hearts to all our earth-born companions and fellow mortals.
With love and
reverence,
Charlene
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REVERENCE: May you appreciate the wonder that you are and the miracle of all creation.
(from The Twelve Gifts of Birth)
