It was an October morning and the presence of Autumn was becoming more evident; cooler mornings with the sun taking longer to bring warmth. I stepped out the front door inhaling deep breaths of the freshness of a new day when I saw a masterpiece displayed over the hedge! Its beauty drew my attention and I moved towards it to have a longer look. I paused in wonder. This had been woven in the silence of the night! Truly breath-taking! As I went about my daily routine, the image kept claiming my attention. I felt it had something to say to me. I visited it later in the day to gaze and be present to it as when anyone visits an art gallery. Brian Swimme the cosmologist wrote that the cosmological powers of the Universe are coursing through us moment by moment and when we become aware of these powers we touch the source of life. It was like that in my encounter. The spider’s innate gift had created something beautiful. The infinite variety in the universe and the unique creativity of each species makes us become silent in the presence of divine imagination.
This encounter prompted thoughts about my own life with the network of relationships that has included different cultures, world views and countries. In an instant I was transported as memories were triggered by the gift of a spider’s web woven as a tapestry of beauty, delicacy and fragility. I puzzled about the reality of living with paradox and contradictions and how is it possible to hold in tension the opposites that I live with each day in a world where there is so much violence, hatred, exploitation and destruction. To create a better world, it must begin with me. As Mahatma Ghandi said ‘You must be the change you wish to see in the world’. Margaret Mead encourages us to ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.’ The story of The Hundredth Monkey Effect echoes the same message, that when behaviours are repeated over and over by different people on different parts of the planet, it creates new patterns of behaviour and new energy for the greater good. Our thoughts, emotions and actions influence others and create rhythms and ripples of hope when we are at peace with ourselves, others, our God and the universe. ‘Let ours be a time remembered for awakening a new respect for our earth and all her inhabitants, for one another, for ourselves and for our common destiny. Earth Charter “We are drawn into the great dance of communion with each other, interwoven and interdependent with all that is.” RNDM 2008
In Christ all things hold together…Colossians 1:17
” … now is the time of God’s favour…2Cor. 6:2
There is a deep story within each of us and within all of us, consider spending some time with what has been stirred in you having read this reflection.
John O’Donohue reminds us that ‘an empty white page is the best mirror’ so take a new page in your journal and write your spontaneous thoughts without judging or analysing! Be surprised!
Margaret Doherty