Can We Be Individuals Together?

Last I checked, there were about 7 billion people on this earth. Many individuals, wouldn’t you say? So there you have it. I’ve answered the question of my title already, and it’s obviously a virtual impossibility that 7 billion individuals can all be together, right?

Before you accept the conclusion and stop reading, allow me to place some other thoughts in your mind. I was reading some interesting info the other day, and a very ironic thought was presented to me. When you look up the origin of the word individual, it actually means…. indivisible!! So what does this mean? I believe it actually means that the 7 billion individuals on this earth now are indivisible. We are all one energy, and one spirit. Don’t believe me? Let’s go to the ultimate resource in my opinion, the Bible. There are several verses about this, but one that stands out is I Corinthians 12:12-13, which says “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by^[a] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” Another version says… Each of us is now a part of his resurrection body, refreshed and sustained at one fountain—his Spirit—where we all come to drink. The old labels we once used to identify ourselves—labels like Jew or Greek, slave or free—are no longer useful. Another verse that shares this is Ephesians 4:4, which says there is “one body and one spirit.”

I am learning more each day that all of the individuals on this planet are actually all one energy and spirit. We all live, move, and have our being in that spirit, the spirit of God. Imagine how much more wonderful this ride of life would be if we realized that. This is why it is so important to love others as ourselves. Because when you love others, in essence you are loving yourself too! When you give to others, the blessings multiply in your own life as well because you are blessing yourself, the same spirit that lives in all, when you give to another “individual”.

I challenge you today to know that you are part of the wonderful, peaceful, loving spirit of God. And so is everyone else. Instead of competing with other individuals, strengthen the bond that we all are instead. It will make a beautiful difference. Enjoy the blessings 🙂

Celebrating Our Oneness

As we come close to another New Years celebration, I continued a tradition last night. I have a video (VHS) copy of the ABC 2000 celebration when Peter Jennings spent 23 straight hours on the air showing the millennium celebrations from all over the world.

I have always been very interested in other people and countries from around the world, so on that last night of 1999 I was absolutely captivated by what I was watching. I am still very interested in other people and cultures which is why I continue to enjoy this wonderful video now 14 years later.

In recent months, this interest in other people has been taken one step further. Why is it so important to love and serve other people? This is a question that’s been running inside my head, and I believe God is trying to talk to me about. Besides the fact it’s what he wants, I am seeing the bigger picture.

Especially lately, God has shown me that His spirit dwells in each of us. We all carry a part of Him wherever we go. Since it’s the same spirit, you and I all have something in common. We are from the same source. In essence, we are connected. A more simple, to the point example comes from Ephesians 4:25 which according to the amplified version says, “we are all parts of one body and members of one another”. In another words, I take this as saying we are all parts of the same whole. This connects us all.

What exactly does this mean? I have learned that what we do as a part affects the whole. I once read from author Wayne Dyer that, if we keep our attitude positive and loving and maintain a positive emotional state, we can automatically impact hundreds if not thousands of people in a positive way. At first I didn’t understand, but once I learned this concept of oneness, it made total sense. Think about this again. Simply by being your best self, you not only make things good for you and your “part”, but you affect the whole, thus impacting many other people.

I believe this is why you get what you give in life. When you give, you are giving to a part of the whole that you are already part of. In essence, you are giving to yourself. Does this make sense? In essence, when you make other people better you also make yourself better. I don’t know about you, but once I realized this it made me so much more willing to give and serve. I know that I am not giving to get something I return. I know that when I give, I am enhancing the spirit of God that we are all a part of. Since I am a part of it too, I benefit as well. The same is true for you.

As mentioned, I have always loved and appreciated people from everywhere. One of the great things about this blog is that I am able to meet and interact with people from all over the world, and I treasure that opportunity. I challenge you to see things in the new light I mention here. Realize that you are connected to everyone through the Spirit of God that is part of all of us. This goes for your friends and family, to the homeless person living on the street, or that person that gave you a dirty look at the supermarket, your angry boss, or whoever. Remember this fact the next time you begin to judge. Instead, I challenge you to appreciate that oneness and do all you can to add to it. You are a part of it, so you will certainly benefit from your positive actions. Enjoy the blessings : )