Recently, I was looking at family pictures using the Photos app on my MacBook. The app has a useful feature of finding photographs of individuals once they are tagged.
Looking at a picture of our new granddaughter, Adalyn, I tagged her to quickly find her photos in the future. When I did this, the app came back with a notification displaying her picture with the caption, “This person is now called Adalyn.”
That caption awoke the observation that humanness precedes the labels life assigns. Nevertheless, we are defined by the labels applied by ourselves or someone else. Adalyn has yet to learn of the impact this has on life.
The ability to make distinctions is the foundation of knowledge, language, and independence. Labels are a convenient shorthand. They allow us to “know,” but at the same time, fail to convey the whole story.
We each are a part of one another. Labels paint over that richness, objectifying intimacy for the sake of convenience. Labels don’t really define who we are. Labels that might be applied to me include; retired, male, husband, father, music-lover, impatient, thinker, introverted, and task-oriented. These words don’t go very far in revealing the person I am. Try it for yourself. The list could be expanded to twenty-five labels and still wouldn’t reveal the person we are inside.
Our mutual “We” defines each other. Spirit is the facilitator. It is the energy and active ingredient of relationships.
In time, Adalyn’s spirit will define who she is. This will be an amazing thing to experience.
Spirit is a non-physical dimension of reality. Adalyn’s spirit is not yet a strong presence in the world. My father passed away nearly ten years ago, yet his presence is strong. Spirit is everywhere, but it speaks in a whisper, forcing us to listen in order to hear what it is saying.
Growing up as a child, we lived near railroad tracks. I used them as a shortcut walking home from school. Sometimes I would set coins on the rail and watch trains smash them beyond recognition. Other times, I would see how far I could walk balancing on a rail. Once I made it all the way home!
Railroad tracks are dangerous. No one lets their kids walk down them anymore. There used to be signage at every railroad crossing, encouraging drivers to Stop, Look, and Listen.
I’ve come to realize that’s a powerful spiritual practice as well!
Perhaps if I really listen, I will discover Adalyn’s spirit is already here.
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Fundamental Principle: Bringing mind, body, and spirit into balance.
A Question To Consider: When do you feel the presence of spirit in your life?
More information including background principles, suggested reading, and a library of previous posts can be found at http://tim-coats.com
Towards A Life Well-Lived 
Love this writing! One of your best, Tim; perhaps because Adalyn’s spirit was present as you were writing! Thank you for sharing her with us.
Lisa
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Thanks Lisa!
Tim Sent from my iPhone
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Always good and on point—- whether it is Adalyn, you or me or someone else— Labeling is rampant these days and unfortunately it is being used to divide us up as individuals or as a Nation versus bringing us together for the common good of all. I am reminded of an E.E.Cummings quote that I wrote down years ago and keep in a very special place…Many times in my life and career I have needed this thought to help me move through this world and live my own life and values versus the life and values that the outside World or Media were telling me I should embrace for their own sake or to fulfill their own Opinion at that certain time. The quote is— ” To be nobody-but-myself in a world which is doing its best ,night and day, to make me everybody else; means to fight the hardest battle which any Human Being can fight, and never stop fighting”
Amen to that—– Warren.
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Awesome quote. It’s always humbling when we really get to know someone that we initially labeled wrong. Your right about the especially now part! Thanks again for reading and sharing your thoughts!
Tim Sent from my iPhone
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