"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were; any man's death diminishes, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee"

I seem to be much more tolerant these days, much more accepting of the beliefs and lifestyles of others. I no longer feel the need to judge or define anyone by his or her life-choices. I have begun to see the oneness that connects us all together. A oneness that is based on love rather than fear.

I much prefer to approach my earthly experience with an open-mind and accept others for who and what they are, not for who and what I would like them to be. I want to join them at their table and them at mine. I want to embrace our differences and respect our individual opinions. I want to understand their truth and listen more than I speak.

I don't think I am alone in this pursuit, for it suddenly feels that a spiritual resurgence is upon us. Every month, as I speak to various groups or exchange e-mail with those who have read my work, I am refreshed and encouraged by the spiritual changes that are beginning to take shape in our neighborhoods and around the planet. Could it be that our collective souls are beginning to transform the world in which we live?

We live in an age of rapid change, where what was once considered black and white and the correct way to live, is being challenged from every angle. The world no longer resembles—if it ever truly did—Father Knows Best, Donna Reed or Leave It To Beaver. I think that's a good thing. After all, did anyone honestly believe that real people actually lived like that? Well, actually, we did. At least our parents did.

Those early television programs (and it's no coincidence they were in black and white) helped to establish and reinforce the role models and rules that would govern an entire generation. Rules, that for the most part, subjected us to someone else's standards and hid the truth about who we really were as spiritual beings. It was a time of cold war, racial violence and spiritual malnutrition, where, governed by fear and hatred, white Americans were taught to feel special—distinct and different—from all other human beings around the globe and even around our own cities. The social morays of the day divided us and pulled us apart. We learned to live by the rules and play the game, while at the same time starving for a one-on-one connection with the Divine.

Those were the days when we allowed rules (the ones that we created) to divide us as a country and put us on the dark road of separation as opposed to interdependence, love and light. These were the rules that allowed for racial segregation and the further refinement of a caste system, where one's social status and skin color allowed for certain privileges. These were the rules that drew lines in the sand and established a clear definition of the haves and the have-nots—rules that compared the world to football and eliminated any possibility of a common table. We indeed, saw ourselves as islands, disconnected from the whole of mankind. As a result, our spirituality as individuals and as a nation suffered. But, perhaps the tide has begun to turn...

As we have matured as a culture, we seem to have finally relaxed a little and become more comfortable with expressing the truth about who we are as spiritual beings. To the surprise of some, perhaps, our new-found truth is anything but black and white. While it may still be uncomfortable, it's no longer necessary to try to fit into someone else's belief system or remain in the closet regarding any area of our lives. More than ever before, each of us is free to step out and become our highest gift, whatever that gift may be.

The differences that once separated us now represent our greatest strength and promise for the future. The bridge that is being built, the connection that will ultimately allow us to fully accept each other, is based on love, spirit, compassion and tolerance. We are beginning to align ourselves not with rules but with our true purpose; not with what we think we should be but with who and what we truly are. The walls of social and religious conformity are beginning to come down.

In our own country for example, women are now free to be stay-at-home moms if they choose or run a Fortune 500 company. Men are free to make the same choice. Child rearing is no longer governed by a set of outdated rules based on gender, but rather on who has the ability and desire. Children will surely benefit from this honest and spirit filled approach.

The way we dress—long considered a social barometer—has taken on an unprecedented casualness, stemming from our true desire for comfortable clothing rather than from the (Madison Avenue created) need to wear what someone else may have defined as socially acceptable. In fact, the significance of clothing has dropped so far down the totem pole in the corporate world, that many companies are beginning to allow casual dress not only on Friday, but everyday of the week. It's no longer possible to clearly determine if someone is rich or poor simply by the clothes on their back. The affect has been neutralizing. Perhaps we're finally beginning to place more emphasis on ability rather than appearance, on talent as opposed to ties. I guess we've all had our fill of stuffed shirts...

Even the way we communicate with each other has changed dramatically, forcing us to consider the message more than the messenger. Take e-mail for example. When I receive e-mail from someone, I have no idea (unless they tell me) whether they are male or female, black or white, heterosexual or gay, rich or poor, Protestant, Catholic or New Age. All I can do (thank goodness) is consider the ideas they have expressed and choose my response accordingly without any prejudice or bias. The Internet has truly provided a common table where we can all come together and regardless of social status, race, gender or belief, exchange ideas in an open and honest forum.

Many of our spiritual masters have taught this great lesson—the lesson of namaste—and for the first time, perhaps, we are beginning to listen. Namaste means, "I will honor the place in you where we are all one." For example, some biblical scholars believe that the only reason Jesus infuriated the rulers of the day and was ultimately crucified, was simply because he had the nerve to sit at a common table. He saw no difference between the wife or the prostitute, the wealthy or the thief. He broke bread and shared His table with all of them. Jesus understood that we are all connected and He could see the presence of God in every person He met.

In another time and place, the teachings of the original Buddha consistently reinforced the notion that leaders should place themselves below that of their followers and not take pleasure in being honored. In fact, it was only after setting aside the material offerings of the prince, that Buddha became the bearer of the Buddha nature. "Do not look at the faults of others, or what one has done or not done; observe only what you yourself have done or not done." DHAMMAPADA 4.7

As I look at the issues facing our planet, from the unrest in the Middle East to the starvation in our country and around the world, to the violence in our schools, and the fear of terrorism, I am convinced more than ever that we must come together as one world and break bread at a common table. We must set aside our differences, embrace our diversity and celebrate the spiritual oneness that connects us all. We must see each other not as adversaries, but as spiritual beings sharing the same God and the same earthly experience. We must roll up our sleeves and begin to work together for a better world.

We seem to have spent so much time defining what it is we hate—what it is we are against—that we may have forgotten the magic that can occur the minute we change our focus to what it is we are for, what it is we love. It has been estimated that on the entire planet we spend approximately $25 million dollars every minute on the business of war and the ability to kill each other. During that very same minute, approximately forty children die of starvation. Do you think, that perhaps, we have our priorities a little twisted?

The world's playing field as well as the playing field within our own neighborhoods, is being leveled. No longer do we as Americans reign supreme in the global village called earth. We may have the majority of the money and the food, but we don't have the oil or the critical mass. Our weapons, which used to be our advantage, are now commonplace even among, what used to be considered, third world countries. In our own back yards, kids from affluent neighborhoods carry guns to school and take the lives of their fellow classmates just as kids in the inner cities have done for years.

No longer can we as individuals or as a nation, live in isolation simply because God has blessed us with a few more natural resources; simply because we think we're better. From a distance, in the eyes of God, we are all the same. To solve the world's problems, we need others as much as they need us.

Perhaps it's time we paused just long enough to let down our guard and recognize that we're all in this together. Perhaps it's time we confronted our fears and replaced those fears with love. Perhaps it's time we stopped seeing the world as black and white and got comfortable living between the piano keys where things are a little more gray, but much more honest. Perhaps it's time we began listening to one another and made a real effort to understand each other's truth. Perhaps it's time to share a common table.

Some Things To Consider

Spend the next week making a conscious effort to truly understand those who look, think, act or believe differently than you. If you're Christian, read from the Koran. If you're Muslim, read from the Bible. If you're neither, read from both. Seek to understand before you seek to be understood.

All Rights Reserved © 2002 By Jeffrey Alan Hall