“On July 2, 1776, Congress voted to approve a complete separation from
Great Britain. Two days afterwards – July 4th – the early draft of the
Declaration of Independence was signed, albeit by only two individuals at that
time: John Hancock, President of Congress, and Charles Thompson, Secretary of
Congress. Four days later, on July 8, members of Congress took that document
and read it aloud from the steps of Independence Hall, proclaiming it to the
city of Philadelphia, after which the Liberty Bell was rung. The inscription
around the top of that bell, Leviticus 25:10, was most appropriate for the
occasion: ‘Proclaim liberty throughout the land and to all the inhabitants
thereof.’”
However, I’d like to also declare an Interdependence Day. Even
though we celebrate our separation from the Crown of England, we must come to
the awareness that we really do not live as “separate peoples” of this planet.
It is to be shared by all – for we are interdependent with all of life on this
earth and beyond!
I recently returned from directing a retreat and I often would walk the grounds
of the center and quietly observe the trees reflected in the surrounding lake,
watch the Sandhill Cranes fly over the near-by pier, and study the puffy,
luminous clouds that looked as if they fell into the lake as they were
reflected there along with the trees. I will post pictures to give a visual of
what I experienced.
As I pondered my surroundings, I was amazed how this environment truly was an
ecosystem happening right in front of me: fish, plants, trees, flowers, bees,
birds, raccoons, deer, turtles, and more all in the dance of the ecosystem
waltz! Everything working, living, sharing, moving, breathing together in one movement
of life in this small circle of the earth. Nothing separated – nothing
independent – everything interdependent.
I thought, too, of my life as a woman religious in my community. Some would
consider me pretty independent – guess I learned that as I was growing up – and
yet as a committed member, I am interdependent with all those in my
community. We pray with and for one another; we minister with and for one
another, we celebrate with and for one another, - however, we share who we are
and what we have with all in our ministries and way of life. As a wise
old mentor once told me, “As celibate women, we belong to everyone and
no-one.”
So on this weekend of Independence Day and the celebration of separation, I
pray for all who walk this earth as we are interdependent in our way of life on
this planet and that we grow in our actions, attitudes, and way of being that
we acknowledge we are here as a people sharing the gift of life in the beauty
of God’s creation on this small planet in the universe. Let us dance
together the interdependent waltz!
(Previously Posted July, 2017)
For pondering:
The late
Albert Einstein, during his declining years, granted a press conference to a
number of newspaper reporters. After they had plied him with questions on many
subjects, one reporter asked: ‘Mr. Einstein, would you care to make a
prediction as to the kind of weapons that will be used in the third world war?’
Modestly he shook his head and said: ‘No, I would not venture a prediction.’
After the briefest hesitation he added, ‘But I’ll tell you what will be the
chief weapon in the fourth world war.’ The reporters were all ears and every
pencil was poised in anticipation of the old man’s prediction. What would be
the chief weapon in the fourth world war?
With an air of finality, the old man gave a one-word reply – 'Clubs!' It took a
moment or two for the aged scientist’s reply to register, but as it did, a grim
silence settled over the assembled group. (Anonymous)
