By Rev. Sharon Campbell Rayment – Special to the Sydenham Current
“Love your neighbour as yourself” and “Love God with all your heart, mind, and soul” were the two greatest commandments the Teacher gave.
Yet to me they are one and the same.
I have the Essence, the Breath of God within me that I inhaled voraciously at my birth with my first cry.
You too, and every sentient being, took this initial breath at birth, and have taken a shared breath with all of creation, every second since, until our last.
This is the Essence of God that always dwells within us.
It is this Essence within all, the ruach (breath) and nephesh (spirit), that unite us as One.
That is why I say we share One Breath of indwelling life, One Heartbeat that resounds as one beat, and One Song resonating in harmony when we truly see, and honour, our interconnectedness.
This Sunday we celebrate worldwide communion.
At the heart of this is the Essence of One.
Each individual will share in the bread and the wine.
Yet we do so as the body of Christ.
We commune as One uniting the world in our prayers for peace that wars will cease, suffering will be alleviated, those trapped within addictions set free, and the world United as One in hope and love.
This isn’t an act we do then disregard.
It is carried within us giving us new eyes to see the light of God within each person, new ears to listen deeply with, renewed purpose to uplift others, and sharing joy and love with all.
If you cannot participate in communion this Sunday you can Unite with us in a Breath Prayer.
Like communion you do a Breath Prayer as an individual, but you are Uniting as One in the shared breath of all sentient beings throughout the world.
Breathe in quietly saying within your mind, “May peace expand within me”.
Breathe out quietly saying within your mind, “May peace expand within you”.
You can pray this as you look around to those who are near you at work, in the grocery store, or anywhere you go.
In communion, we are United as One yet let us not see this as a single act uniting us.
This can be carried wherever we go without end as we share with others the breath of peace.
Peace that Jesus tells us in Phillipians 4:4-6 that surpasses all understanding. A deep abiding peace that expands within each individual and throughout the world as One Breath One Heartbeat One Song of hope, love, peace, and joy.
Until next time remember that every breath we take is a breath of God, Uniting All of My Relations as One.
Many blessings, Rev. Sharon
