Namaste friends

I first learned the concept of namaste from a friend of mine and ever since I have been powerfully moved by it.  It is a common greeting in India which means, “The Divine in me honors and respects the Divine in you”.   The greeting starts one’s encounter with a person in humbled reflective light.  We come together to this place where we share our stories and while doing so we experience the Divine.  I choose to use the collective “we” representing anyone who is willing to share and more importantly willing to listen.  This place is one where people come knowing the prejudice, slanted, learned behaviors we have BUT are willing to talk, openly and honestly about them–in hopes of coming to a deeper relationship with ourselves, each other and God.  We are all children of God called to listen, serve, stand up for people who are oppressed.  We serve the God of the oppressed, always hoping liberation will come.

 With all the power of my arms,
With all the intelligence of my mind,
With all the love of my heart
I pay my due respect to the soul -
Within you.