Every spiritual path and every religious expression presses the issue of how to
nurture the spiritual life, so that it brings vitality to who we are. And in doing so,
brings vitality to those around us.
Great leaders have often found spiritual guidance an important part of their
disciplines. Often there are ancestors in families who are particularly known for
their spiritual vitality. You may hear some say “They were such a prayerful person,”
“They loved the Lord”, or that they were “A Holy Man” or “Holy Woman.” They were
humble, generous, thoughtful, served others, gave of themselves to those in need.
We sometimes struggle to find words to describe when we have been in the
presence of such people.
That is because first there is The Chord. Before they were here on this earth, they
were energy, coming from Source, coming from the heart of the Universe, coming
from God. Perhaps even, I would say, before they came, they/we were a song such
by chord. No words suffice. Yet energy, The Chord, was, has been, and always will
be. The Chord enters the Container via the cord of the womb, and the placenta has
the mark of the Tree of Life. The Container holds and shares what has been given.
We seek and find words to describe it. And when all is said and done, silence, as we
remember. Honor. And give thanks. And in great measure, this is the Vitality of the
Spiritual Life.
Wooden instruments such as the indigenous flute often come from the wood of a
tree chosen and considered special or sacred. When we make music we play a
chord. We breath deep from the area of the Second Cord (the Birthing Cord).
When we are violent, critical, abusive, we use the word discord. Something is torn,
pulled away, bleeds. We need to remember this for like a flute, the body we inhabit
has memories. Muscle memories, emotional and spiritual memories. If they hold
discord we suffer, sometimes for generations. Yet if we practice, are disciplined with
love and joy, the tune we play can become beautiful. Beautiful beyond words, and
thus once again home where we came from.
The body holds the vibration of the chord sung to us, given to, or gifted to us.
Where there is suffering in the body there is a cry for healing chords to be brought
to bear. Whether it is an individual body, or a communal body.
Sometimes we carry the spiritual bones of ancestors suffering, migration, exile, or
genocide. Yet you are here now. You carry the story or make it a song. And in the
telling and the singing, right wrongs, and touch upon the heart and that for which it
longs.
You and I are the container, the sacredness that holds the chord that cannot be
destroyed. We more often than not can play sacred chords when we are in tune
with the vitalities of the spiritual life. Play them well.
When one thinks of the Four Winds, or the Four Directions, we do not necessarily
limit ourselves to those. The Universe is much deeper wider and higher. Besides
East, West, South, and North there is above, below, behind, before, around and
within.
So when we consider the Ten Vitalities of Life, rest assured they point to a thousand
that are here for us! But is as when we come into this world, we have to start
somewhere! Come along and explore these vitalities that help us find the latitude of
gratitude and the longitude of our longings.
We are forever of one/a chord/cord.