One can’t help being aware of the sensation of “hanging in space.” Tumultuous is the word that comes to mind when I think about the world at large these days. Not so far behind us are the September 11th tragedies of such magnitude that it is still hard to grasp. No one really knows what the future holds.
The Siri Singh Sahib (Yogi Bhajan) once gave me a rhyme:
“Be kind, compassionate, loving and sweet.
Inspiring to bring people out of retreat.”

I have finally realized this is our job, our responsibility as humans. It is stepping up to the plate. We are blessed with tools to sustain and guide us: deep meditation, compassion, prayer, love, faith, yoga and other practices of spiritual discipline. Perhaps the most important tool of all is service – our ability to give of ourselves. We are now aware of so many more opportunities to give and serve than we were aware of before. This year we have the opportunity to take our innate understanding of what giving is to new and higher places.

I invite you to inspect the facets of your life, to meditate deeply on the gift of life, to give thanks with a grateful heart, mind and soul, and to give back and serve in every way you can. Step up to the plate!

Get together with family, friends, colleagues, neighbors and within your communities to share meals, sing, pray, watch uplifting movies, dance…

Invite those who are alone to share in your Solstice, Hanukah, Christmas, New Year’s and other festivities…

Organize service projects in your community or neighborhood…

Spend time making gifts or visiting those unable to celebrate as you do, in hospitals, nursing homes, shelters, prisons…

There are so many more people willing to be more open and generous, willing to listen more, willing to help wherever they can. Projects are going up across the country involving community and interfaith outreach. We are inspiring ourselves and each other to be strong in the face of adversity and this inspiration comes directly from our state of being.

May God bless us all. May we all be showered with compassion, love, health, joy, and abundance. May our hearts be open and may we live in the Grace of God.