top of page
Search

Spiritual Topic for December 2024 - No Man Is An Island


Overview

This month’s topic builds on “Raising Your Vibration” as well as “Thriving Through the Holidays,” the topic we have presented in December for the last two years.


The “Thriving” topic relates to coping with and managing emotions and being mindful of one’s thoughts and reactions in various social situations. This month’s topic builds upon similar social situations; however, it is more active and empowering. It’s about acting as a role model and being the change we want to see in the world. It’s not about activism but rather empowering others and modelling self-empowerment.


We often find ourselves surrounded by people who view the world and life differently from us. This can occur in family settings, with neighbours, at community gatherings, or in any number of places and environments, and these scenarios tend to intensify during the holidays.


While this can be frustrating and, at times, cause us to feel isolated, we are called upon to shine our lights and lead the way.


Humanity needs unity, not division. It’s time to set aside our differences. We can contemplate how we may all have our own opinions, truths, and even realities and yet coexist. Role modelling and offering this possibility is one way to support others through the shift that is occurring.


When other structures let us down, we can pull together as a community and support one another. No man, woman, animal, flower, tree, or any other part of creation is an island. We are all interwoven and interconnected like the threads of a universal tapestry or web of life. This knowledge was well understood and accepted by humans going back thousands and even tens of thousands of years. It is only in the more recent millennia of humanity that humans have become more focused on the self and, therefore, feel disconnected from others. For the most part, we have lost the concept and appreciation that we are connected to the universal tapestry of life.


Our thoughts, feelings, and actions impact one another, the whole of humanity, and all of creation.


In most of today’s society, we are taught individualism and competition instead of being a part of the collective and collaboration. We are all unique sovereign beings, and yet, at the same time, we are a part of the whole of humanity. With this awareness, we can contemplate what it means as it relates to our physicality, our day-to-day actions, our relationships, and our choices.


The butterfly effect is the idea that small things can have a big impact. It is named after the story of a butterfly flapping its wings and causing a hurricane on the other side of the world. It is not the science behind this that we want to draw your attention to, but rather the concept that our actions affect others in ways we may not know. This is a perfect illustration to show that no action, deed, or thought is too small to cause a ripple impact.

“We but mirror the world. All the tendencies present in the outer world are to be found in the world of our body. If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. This is the divine mystery supreme. A wonderful thing it is and the source of our happiness. We need not wait to see what others do.”—Mahatma Gandhi (1)


It is important to be aware of the intention behind your actions. Sometimes we do things with the best of intentions, but it doesn’t appear to help in the way we expected. When this occurs, we must be careful not to judge the outcome.


It’s not just random acts of kindness but the power of intention to help another being and the energy it takes to carry out that intention that has a positive ripple effect. 

The choices one makes to help others and the intention behind them can make a beneficial difference in the world. It raises the energy and vibration, not only around you, but it has far-reaching positive repercussions (through time and space) in ways one could perhaps not foresee.


This desire to help can be born from frustration. People can only tolerate so much before they reach a trigger point and then look within to consider what they can do. It is a form of self-empowerment when one realises they can do something that provides significant help.


Remember to acknowledge your gifts and your worth, and consider what skills, gifts, and resources you have to offer others.  


As we navigate through these extraordinary times, we have the opportunity to support, inspire, and motivate others, as well as the opportunity to identify when we need to support ourselves. Most CC members have a true desire to help others – it’s an innate part of who we are and of our mission on Earth. CC teams worldwide excel at stepping up and taking action to help. Please see the Deep Dive, “Making the World a Better Place”, for many examples of CC teams supporting one another and their local communities.


While we excel at helping others, we are often not as good at appreciating or accepting the help we need for ourselves.


God/Source answers our prayers, requests, and intentions in a myriad of ways. Maintaining an open heart and open mind can help one be open to this help. More often than not, this assistance does not appear as trumpets blaring in a divine chorus or angels materialising in your presence. Instead, this divine assistance may be delivered through people, processes, and resources commonly found in one’s environment. The renowned ‘Drowning Man’ story offers a great example of divine help that was offered but not recognised.*


The Drowning Man


A man stuck in a flood made his way to the rooftop, praying for God to help.


Before long, a man in a rowboat appeared and called out, “Climb down and into my boat.”

The man on the rooftop shouted, “I’m okay. God is going to save me!”


The man rowed on toward the next house.


Shortly after, a woman in a motorboat stopped in front of the house. She called out, “Jump down and into my boat.”


The man on the rooftop repeated, “I’m okay.” He placed his hands in a prayer position. “I have great faith, and I’ve been praying. God is going to save me.”


The woman shook her head.


As she zipped off, a helicopter flew overhead. The pilot said, “I’ll drop a rope and pull you to safety.”


The man on the rooftop once again declined. “No thanks, I’m praying to God, and he will save me.”


So the helicopter flew away.


The water continued to rise, and before long, it covered the rooftop, and the man drowned.


When he got to Heaven, he put a hand on his hip as he approached God. “Why didn’t you save me?” he asked. “I showed my great faith. I prayed and prayed...why did you let me drown?”


God replied, “My beloved child, I sent you three different people to save you!”

*

This parable offers great wisdom. Sometimes we envision what help will look like and are fixed on a particular way or outcome. In doing so, we can miss help that is divinely offered.


Help can be delivered in ways we do not foresee. You may have called out a prayer... be open to the different ways in which your prayer is answered.  


Using one’s intuition and discernment can help one recognise divine assistance regardless of how it is offered. This help could come from a kind stranger, like in “The Drowning Man” story. It could be a phone call, email, book, or article that appears after you’ve asked for guidance. Or it could arrive as a divine whisper or nudge that comes as an inspired thought.


One may also experience synchronicities and serendipity. Synchronicity is sometimes called meaningful coincidence or whispers from the universe. These may look like seemingly random or unrelated events that, upon introspection, have a much deeper meaning or purpose. Synchronicities are divinely orchestrated to provide a message or guidance or to reassure us that we are on the right path.


Serendipity is finding unexpected blessings and miracles along one’s journey.

Synchronicity and serendipity weave in the energy and magic behind intentions and actions. These come from the God Source that drives everything, and it is a living, conscious energy. 


When we are open to synchronicities, serendipity, blessings, and miracles, we see the signs, we hear the messages, and we feel the divine nudge. When we realise we can receive these through our thoughts, feelings, prayers, and intentions, they occur more often. As we acknowledge and truly appreciate them, the frequency and benefits increase for us individually and as a collective.


Footnotes:


Discussion Questions 

  • How can we model self-empowerment and empower others to be the change that we or they want to see in the world?

  • What are your thoughts on this statement, “No man, woman, animal, flower, tree, or any other part of creation is an island?”

  • Mahatma Ghandi said, “As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him.” What do you think he meant by this?

  • Can you share a time when you have felt motivated to help out in a situation (either big or small) in a way that you truly felt or saw the benefit for others?

  • Have you ever experienced synchronicity and serendipity in your life? Please share your experiences.


A Deeper Dive: Making the World a Better Place 

December 2024 


A Deeper Dive Overview


In this month’s overview we covered modelling self-empowerment, helping empower others, accepting our differences and moving forward as empowered, sovereign beings to help ourselves, each other, our communities, and the world around us.


We can accept that the world isn’t as we would like it to be and that there are challenges to getting to a better place. We can acknowledge this and, at the same time, understand where there’s a will, there’s a way. We are on the brink of a great quantum leap, and we all have a part to play. Every member within CC can do their part to help. What can we do as individuals and groups to make the world a better place?


It is time to take control and recreate a new way of life that is nurturing, empowering, and enables more time to live, to laugh, to love, and to be.


We can set positive examples, modelling living our best life so we can shine our light and encourage others to do the same. Every positive thought, feeling and action contributes toward building the new. As such, this is the ideal time to think about positive manifestations. We can rebuild relationships and/or release relationships that no longer align with our Higher Self, interacting with others in a more loving way. We can think positive thoughts and take action toward creating a better community and an improved way of life. What does this look like for you? How can we manifest this and incorporate aspects of it step by step in manageable ways?


A core value of Connecting Consciousness is helping people make connections. As highlighted in the examples below, CC Coordinators, volunteers, and members are all doing their part to make a difference in their communities.


Don’t underestimate small acts of kindness. As Cartoonist Scott Adams says, “Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.” As this quote suggests, no act is too small. Offering a smile, a small gift, or a kind word can be exactly what another person needs. You can drive a neighbour to an appointment, pick up trash on the beach, or take cookies to a friend. Give a hug, visit someone who is lonely, call your mom. Walk someone’s dog, give a compliment, donate things you no longer use. The list of small acts with big impacts is endless. This day may not bring a monumental opportunity, project or event for you to help others, and yet, small opportunities present themselves each and every day.


The Australia CC group implemented Sue Gay’s service initiative, ‘You, Being Me,’ and this amazing service has since been rolled out in many other CC Teams throughout the world. The purpose is for one member to enlist the help of another, typically remote, member to carry out an act of unpaid, loving service and reinforce heartfelt connections.


An example is a CC member asking a ‘service angel’ to check in on an isolated family member who lives on the other side of the country. ‘You, Being Me’ offers an immediate, accessible, and do-able way of serving others.


Other CC Coordinators and volunteer teams worldwide have initiated “Small Acts of Kindness” campaigns to help CC members and their communities. Other teams are helping local organisations like battered women’s shelters, homeless shelters, food kitchens, animal rescues, toy donations, clothing drives, etc.


CC members from around the world have recently supported people in America who were impacted by recent hurricanes. Significant donations and gifts of basic necessities have been made by members worldwide. In addition, CC members in the local and surrounding areas have given their time, skills, and resources. On-the-ground efforts included donating and delivering food, fuel, basic necessities, and supplies for animals, providing generators and fuel, assisting in local soup kitchens, delivering provisions to hard-to-reach mountain areas, and many other contributions.


CC offers a worldwide Prayer Circle, led by Robin Crawford, Brandi Fulgo, and Debi Gilbert. This beautiful service allows members worldwide to submit their prayer requests. Each week, a group of worldwide CC Volunteers meet to pray together, incorporating all of the individual prayers and asking for “what is of the Highest Good of All in Love and Light for everyone and everything.” Praying together provides an amplified focus on each individual request and generates a palpable group vibration and a greater flow of divine energy.


The American CC Team created and began offering Bereavement & Transitions Support led by Emily Page and Angela Atkins. Bereavement support has since expanded and is now being offered in many different CC locations worldwide. During these support sessions, CC members gather on Zoom to focus on healing the heart by connecting with others and sharing stories, inspirations, and milestones. The energy of love and feelings shared in this sacred space assist in coping, healing and transformation during challenging times.


“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”—Desmond Tutu

 

Discussion Questions 


  • What skills and passions do you want to share with the world to make it a better place? How can you get started, dreaming big and beginning with small actions?

  • Small acts of kindness create ripples; sometimes, they are observable, and other times they are not. How do you think this works?

  • Remembering the ripple effect and that no act of kindness is too small, in what ways can you engage in small acts that may make a big difference?

  • We can think positive thoughts and take action toward creating a better community and an improved way of life. What does this look like for you? How can we manifest this and incorporate aspects of it step-by-step in manageable ways?


Comments

bottom of page