Seeing Past the Illusion of Separation

I had a miraculous moment with a man today. He was attempting to speak with someone who didn’t want to look at or acknowedge him when I passed by.

He caught my eyes and we looked at one another and then he approached me. He offered his hand, I took it, and as we shook hands looking at one another, he said, “You didn’t look like someone who was afraid of Black people. Thank You.” And then we spoke for a minute or two, sharing that his birthday is today and that mine is coming up, where we grew up and how we’re going to spend the rest of our days.

Then simultaneously acknowledging that our time in that moment was up up, we looked into each other’s eyes, shook hands again and were both on our way.

How often do we miss out on authentic human connection every day because of fear?

Controlled by stereotypes, subconscious programming, preconceived notions based on past experiences or traumas, and holding ourselves prisoner in our own little world, distracted by everything that we have to do that we forget that we’re not alone? Missing out on the opportunity to let our walls and defenses down so we can be both see and be seen? Hear and be heard? Feel and be felt?

And, thus, foregoing the deeper truth that while we may appear separate in our physical bodies, we are actually one in Spirit.

I am you. And you are me. Both finite and endless. Different and yet the same. So when I honor, accept and respect another, I honor, accept and respect myself. And likewise, when I dishonor, reject and disrespect another, I dishonor, reject and disrespect myself. This is the Golden Rule.

We are each finding our way towards this truth. To remember it as we knew it before we learned differently. And each of us has our own work to do what we need to do to grow and overcome what holds us back or veils our eyes from seeing it and living it. But know that each of our efforts and victories connect into a much, much Greater Whole. Like pieces of jigsaw puzzle or threads weaving together on the loom. And the path is WIDE. There is no one right way to embody this truth and the Home that it alludes to, whether you call it Source, Ensof, Oneness, the Limitless Light or the Endless World. So while we are here on Earth, we can make the most of life by helping and supporting our fellow Brothers and Sisters on our journeys Home and choosing to not hinder, discourage or trip them up by imposing our values of right or wrong onto them.

So when you’re out in the world and it seems like everyone is out for themselves, stuck in their own little worlds, remember that. Remember that for yourself.

Take off the blinders whenever you can and for as long as you can. And see the person with whom you are connecting and let yourself be seen as a divine, sacred gift that you both can give to one another. An opportunity to connect to your Humanity. To connect to your Divinity. Connect to your Heart.

And receive the reminder that amidst all of the many, many things that make us different, the only thing that actually separates us is ourselves. And that separation is an illusion.

Note: This is an update of an original post on my Medium account in 2017. Interestingly, it’s uncannily resonant with an experience I just had today. Life is a spiral, isn’t it? So enjoy this blast from the past. And stay tuned for more refreshes like this one. Thank you for reading and please feel free to comment and share if this resonates with you, too.