"I couldn't help but imagine what my world might be like if I looked at the human beings I was closest to as holy..."
~ Joan Anderson
In A YEAR BY THE SEA, Joan Anderson writes about her year of living alone, close to nature, as she seeks to re-establish an authentic relationship with herself and her family.
She wonders about seeing others the way a monk respects the chalice. And
she tries to look behind the roles of each person to their genuine spirit, their very being.
Although Joan Anderson doesn't accomplish that to the extent that Thomas Merton did when suddenly everything around him transformed and he saw humanity filled with light and all connected, she does come to see her husband and sons with greater appreciation, respect and love.
According to Thomas Merton, if we saw one another as we truly are, we would be in awe
and fall on our knees.
You may recall that Mother Teresa said she aimed to see Jesus in disguise in each person.
Whether it's Joan Anderson, Thomas Merton, the Reverend Mother, or someone else who inspires us toward this, let's aim to see others, especially those closest to us, as "holy" and treat them with loving reverence.
And
kindness,
Charlenel
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