Common may create a sense of unity. Or saturate and diminish.
Common has a tribal quality – to be one of many in the same likeness. Common provides security and connectedness. And powers up the soul that feels isolated and separated. Common reveals the road travelled by fellow pilgrims. To be common is to be in harmony with belonging.
In the proper setting, common inspires. Brings together shards of stained glass and sets them in a frame. Common weaves the wisdom of saints into beautiful fabric.
But common may also be used to blur. To make ordinary sound so ordinary. Without remark. Lacking distinction. Not a hint of originality. With this, common encourages the faceless - and nameless – to remain that way. A collection of bones crackling around the world. With solemn disregard to flesh and heart and soul. With egregious contempt for creativity and wonder.
Without warning, common crosses over into a measured standard – placing value on one side. And simultaneously belittling the other. Industrialists and capitalists and businesspersons may decide to dance with this common. But the soulful person will steer clear.
Sometimes common is manipulated by cultural expectations. And evolves through time and circumstance. But this common is flawed – morphing to conform to fickle humans. Who vacillate. And are unpredictable. This common will surely fizzle as new temptations bubble to the surface. And new common will take hold.
A relationship with common must be balanced. To know the shared beloved that is surely present in all of creation. And to take hold of the uncommon – in each one created. Amen.
Common has a tribal quality – to be one of many in the same likeness. Common provides security and connectedness. And powers up the soul that feels isolated and separated. Common reveals the road travelled by fellow pilgrims. To be common is to be in harmony with belonging.
In the proper setting, common inspires. Brings together shards of stained glass and sets them in a frame. Common weaves the wisdom of saints into beautiful fabric.
But common may also be used to blur. To make ordinary sound so ordinary. Without remark. Lacking distinction. Not a hint of originality. With this, common encourages the faceless - and nameless – to remain that way. A collection of bones crackling around the world. With solemn disregard to flesh and heart and soul. With egregious contempt for creativity and wonder.
Without warning, common crosses over into a measured standard – placing value on one side. And simultaneously belittling the other. Industrialists and capitalists and businesspersons may decide to dance with this common. But the soulful person will steer clear.
Sometimes common is manipulated by cultural expectations. And evolves through time and circumstance. But this common is flawed – morphing to conform to fickle humans. Who vacillate. And are unpredictable. This common will surely fizzle as new temptations bubble to the surface. And new common will take hold.
A relationship with common must be balanced. To know the shared beloved that is surely present in all of creation. And to take hold of the uncommon – in each one created. Amen.