What if everything in the universe was a celestial code - something that has meaning to someone else, even when we cannot see that meaning?

According to a character in Dan Brown's novel, Origin, the world is made up of patterns and codes. Patterns are what we see in nature: naturally-occurring stuff like the ripples on a lake or the shapes of leaves. Codes are things created by man: symbols that have more meaning (to us humans, anyway) because they are representations of other things (like these letters that combine to make words, which mean something to us even though they are just squiggly lines and shapes).

What if some being (God, if you like, or another name - which is just a code - to signify a being more advanced than ourselves) created everything in the world? What if our dear planet - and every single thing on it, us included - is a mark on a canvas ... a whiteboard ... a philosophical thought project the meaning of which is beyond our comprehension?

If that were true, then could we not think of our own lives as patterns and codes? For example, each day when I prepare meals is it not likely that the result is a code as well as simply a meal - a symbolic gesture telling my family that I love them and care about their well-being? The same applies to any work we do, any effort we put forth to create something - physical or not - in the world.

It makes me think about the mindset and the energy behind even simple tasks. If I am creating codes that other people are interpreting in their own way, isn't it better if all that I do comes from a place of awareness and love and acceptance? That way, perhaps, the codes would add to the positive energy of the universe - creating balance and stability rather than chaos - and we would all be better off. What if we paid that much attention to everything - absolutely everything - we do?

Over the course of a lifetime, we make many connections, acquire friends, and cherish the time we spend with each other. These bonds are what make life meaningful - at least for many. For most, there are times, however, when relationships get strained or become neglected to the point where people simply stop interacting. But do we stop caring? We may not see or talk to those people, but have we allowed them also to escape our memory banks altogether - as if we had never known each other?

Likely, every person is very different. Some hold dear every single soul they have encountered, able to relate touching stories about the times they spent together. Some remember more of the hard times, but they also keep those memories as if even the negative thoughts about a person are better than no thoughts at all. As societies, we think of those groups as OUR people: our neighbors, our family, our friends, our community. We protect and defend them. We make decisions that affect their well-being , and we hope that they are doing the same for us. At times, we even extend this courtesy and thoughtfulness to all the inhabitants of our country in, unfortunately, a kind of us-against-them kind of comradeship.

I wonder what would happen if we could envision an entire world where each of us is the origin-point for that kind of love, respect, and acceptance. I wonder if we could see the way our thoughts, emotions, and actions flow out and create bonds that tie us to each other. If that were possible, do you think we might stop seeing all the ways we are "strangers" or "others" and start seeing each other as beautiful, wonderful members of one family? All of us willing to try harder, to listen with more compassion, and to put the needs of someone other than ourselves further up the priority list. I wonder ....

I don't understand this. It makes no sense to me, although I see the arguments given and recognize the perspectives of people on all sides of the conflicts. Still, we are - in the end - all humans. We are all living on a finite amount of land mass on a beautiful planet with finite resources - which we share with countless other life forms. Even more amazing is the idea that - at least so far - we seem to be the only planet engaged in this grand experiment! That, by itself, is a thing of daily wonder to me.

Wouldn't it be lovely if we could start each day with hearts filled with gratitude for what we have - even if it is very little compared to our neighbors? What if, each day, we noticed all the ways we are connected rather than all the ways we are divided? 

What if, each day, we simply made the decision to choose kindness, acceptance, and even appreciation for those connections - for those opportunities to expand our own lives by connecting with everything around us? If we could only take the chance and choose hope, trust, & compassion rather than hatred & fear, just imagine how beautiful the world could be!