Knowing where we come from is more than a story of biology. We all have roughly the same human ingredients but the more we grow, the more we advance, the more divided we seem to become. One becomes many in the story of the single cell that starts after fertilization of the sperm and the egg in the fallopian tubes. But unlike the multiplying of cells for the creation of each one of us, the more our population expands, the less we remember that we came from a harmonious effort within an environment supporting life.
The story of where we come from ancestrally has an endless number of variations with highs and lows that are so unique that we can’t possibly imagine them all. We try to categorize to simplify but then we make assumptions and usually errors in judgement. Where I could imagine beautiful stories from all the tales of life, tragic misunderstandings and brutal harms exist. Fear is a strong emotion that may override logic. So if we fear any sort of personal or cultural extinction, our basic nature is to do anything at all cost to survive. And for some reason, we come with this complex set of emotions that can tear us apart or alternatively it has been shown, we have the power to unify and express compassion. I believe both exist fairly, but oftentimes, what we hear and see most is the worst in us because we might be more closely acting from our animal behavior than from our spiritual center.
I’m grateful that enough awareness surfaces that we know to show support for those who have been marginalized. Though at some and many moments we didn’t see it, it’s powerful to remember that history also includes the brave acts by those who courageously did help us to see better and do better. The horrors of our behavior require a compound effect since if we hear it once or twice we likely look over it. But when we see it or hear it again and again and again and again and again and again, not just for weeks or months or years but for decades and centuries and well, lifetimes…. eventually, some areas of ignorance can be dispelled by the light of dignity. But it’s a slow process or at least, it appears that way when the mind is able to dream otherwise. Every voice that spoke up helped propel and move the next voice forward.
What is behind every story when we hurt? I know there’s no way to simplify this and nor would I want to, but I also know that each one of us has the cellular memory that we were brought here to awaken some new potential. What does it take to awaken? Is it the clanging alarm clock that obliterates all else, or is it the loving embrace and caress from the hands of a loving and kind force from nature?
I was talking with Brett “Fox” Ray, Qigong teacher here with Mukunda Studio. His grandma is from Lebanon and he was raised by a passionate family that tells the tale of one, unique American journey. Fox felt inspired to study French because the language his Lebanese grandmother spoke was determined by the colonization of the French. Her honor and allegiance of her homeland was related to this culture. But it wasn’t what was originally and authentically hers. Fox studied further to learn the Arabic roots and wanted to rebuild his relationship with his Lebanese heritage. It was like going a step back to take a big step forward. What comes from this type of searching? Does the outer journey of honoring family of origin, language, food, art and music vibrate a message to the essence of one’s inner harmonic scale? This month we celebrate Arab American Heritage Month. I’m grateful to learn of this personal journey that in some way, brings healing by way of learning and unifying by not forgetting.
Today celebrates National Gold Star Spouse Day which recognizes the military men and women who were killed in battle and leave a spouse behind in this world. Will there come a day when our resolve to find peace doesn’t include the broken and overused weapon of war? No matter what I think of war, my heart opens to those who suffer from losing their loved one.
If their service member died in service, the family replaced the blue star with a gold star. The gold star let the community know that their service member died or was killed while serving their country. – https://www.militaryonesource.mil
And we can celebrate National Go For Broke Day – yet another recognition with military origin which to my surprise, has a connection to my Japanese ancestry!
The 442nd RCT was a segregated World War II unit made up entirely of Americans of Japanese ancestry, which was a big deal since they were barred from military service at the start of the conflict due to fears stemming from the Pearl Harbor attack. Japanese Americans, known as Nisei, couldn’t enlist in the armed forces, and hundreds of thousands of them were relocated into internment camps out of distrust.
But many Nisei still wanted to serve America. They were eventually able to do so through the 100th Infantry Battalion, the 1399th Engineer Construction Battalion, the Military Intelligence Service, and the 442nd RCT — which became the most decorated military unit of its size and length of service.
Read more from defense.gov. It’s pretty interesting!
My hope is that we remember the message that within a unified vision, all the parts that create it have unique resonance. America is built from these unique, multifaceted, multicultural, multiamazing stories. We have many years of celebrating and honoring this whether through wars, sports, legends and stars. And speaking of stars… We can dive deep into the recognition that we are all made of the same star stuff, but it also seems to help that we honor the way the stars aligned to make us each unique within this elaborate constellation of being. We do well to see the nuances and to make space for them rather than lump them together assuming they’re the same enough. We do well to take a moment and recognize more than what’s familiar to us in order to see each other as worthy, equal and here with divine purpose.
Let’s stay connected,
Marc
