A Special Holiday Message: A Pull To Union

I feel that the fundamental force in the universe is a Pull To Union.

In the physical world, energy is pulled together to form atoms, which assemble into molecules, which combine into everything we can see, taste, touch, or smell. On a larger scale, stars pull in planets, and galaxies pull in stars.

Where does this Pull To Union come from? 

No one knows for certain. Einstein’s Theories of Relativity provide the best physical description, revealing that anything with mass or energy warps the space-time fabric, like a bowling ball sitting on a rubber sheet, pulling lesser objects toward it.

We all have mass and energy, but often fail to notice the pull to union. Instead, we have an ingrained sense of separation, that we are special, that life is about us. But that is not the natural order of things. 

A Pull To Union exists not only around us, but within us.  Peace is found when we awaken to its power. 

But how?

I believe the answer is Spirit.

Spirit is the mysterious energetic component in relationships. Philosopher Ken Wilber describes it as the “Miracle of We.”

Marginalian author, Maria Popova, describes our awakening: 

“We spend our lives trying to find ourselves, only to discover that the self is precisely what stands between us and being fully alive.”

When fully alive, we are whole, understanding both how we fit in and where we belong. Today, there is a crisis of wholeness in many people’s lives, or, in other words, a poverty of Spirit.

The Holiday Season is infused with Spirit, but to experience its full measure, we have to let go of our self-centered inclinations. That’s not easy, especially when family and friends with differing perspectives gather, which can sometimes trigger unwanted tensions. 

Standing down and suspending judgment are precursors to awakening to union. A recent example from my life highlights the point.

I harshly judged someone whom I later had the chance to spend some time with. As I got to know this person better, my judgment softened and then vanished. It wasn’t that we suddenly agreed on everything; instead, we let our guards down. This changed everything! 

This experience could easily be dismissed as “My Bad,” which would be true. But that’s not the whole picture. When I opened my heart wide enough to engage in non-judgmental conversation, Spirit moved in, allowing a Pull To Union to take over!

An important lesson is revealed in that experience. Whenever we are lonely, emotional, or simply disconnected, all we need to do is let go, open up, and fully accept the gift of life. When doing this, we needn’t worry about finding our place in the world; the world will find us.

There’s a stronger thing keeping us together. I refer to this as a Pull To Union; others might choose a different name, which is fine. What it does is more important than what we call it. 

This season, let’s open our hearts, suspend judgment, and graciously accept the gifts life has granted us (blemishes and all).

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!

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My first book, Towards A Life Well-Lived, can be purchased by clicking this link. Proceeds from sales are donated to Peace In Schools, a Portland, Oregon-based organization that supports mindfulness training in high schools. 

Stay tuned for my new book, The Secret Within, which I now expect to be available early in the new year.