By Jim Hannah
Proverbs 1 & 2 (selected verses)
I Came Here - Richard Wagamese, from “Embers”
May these words that I speak and these songs I sing be grounded in my soul, encouraged by the spirit presence in me; and may these words and songs you hear be captured by your soul, enlivened by the spirit presence in you. Amen.
WE are stardust. Everything is stardust. Our ancient ancestors knew it as do many of our indigenous brothers and sisters still do today. But somehow over the last few centuries we have lost touch with our real place in the universe and on this planet in particular. We no longer recognize or accept our actual connection to everything. We have come to see ourselves as separate from the rest of the animal world and separate from the natural world.
But the reality is that there is life in everything – human and other-than-human – and our disconnection with this reality is wreaking havoc on this planet that is our only home. I wrote this first song way back in 1997as a way for me to try to reconnect with all of creation. This song takes the four elements – earth, air, water and fire – celebrating the wonder of this earth and weaving each element with the wonder it can bring to our lives…
Life in Everything Jim Hannah©1997
Good earth, solid like the mountains,
Gentle like the meadows, Strength to now begin.
Good earth, cradle me in stillness,
Nurture my potential, Spirit deep within.
Water, flowing like the river,
Rushing to the ocean, Healing every part.
Water, cleansing my emotions,
Stirring new beginnings, There inside my heart.
Turning, season after season.
Earth embraces winter, water births the spring.
Yearning, fire warms the summer,
Air the winds of autumn, life in everything.
Fire, burning like the sunshine,
Glowing like the sunset, Candle in the night.
Fire, changing and transforming,
Raising up my passion, Pure creative light
Turning, season after season.
Earth embraces winter, water births the spring.
Yearning, fire warms the summer,
Air the winds of autumn, life in everything.
Sweet air, moving in the pine trees,
Dancing in the grasses, Life to all that sings.
Sweet air, touch my inspiration,
Free imagination, Wind beneath my wings.
Turning, season after season.
Earth embraces winter, water births the spring.
Yearning, fire warms the summer,
Air the winds of autumn, life in everything.
Turning - earth, air, water, fire,
Life in all inspire, life in all will be…
We don’t want to hear it, don’t want the tragic news. Climate change is very real my friends. Atmospheric rivers, the most powerful hurricanes in history, massive wildfires, temperatures now approaching highs making life unlivable, and rising sea levels are all signs of this tragic change.
The Okanagan valley knows the costs with properties and unknown numbers of wildlife destroyed by fires. The past two seasons have seen massive losses of fruit trees and vineyards. But we don’t want to hear it, don’t want the tragic news, instead we elect a climate denying party in every Okanagan riding but one! I, and many others are simply gobsmacked!
This passage from Proverbs that we heard read this morning tells us that our unwillingness to face reality is not new. The spirit of Sophia is within us and among us trying to open our eyes, trying to make us look more deeply at how we live in this world. This Spirit of Love is part of all that is and is the defining way of the universe. This next song, also written nearly thirty years ago is my attempt to connect the Spirit of Sophia with all creation so that we might also open to the power of love to bring healing to ourselves and our world…
She Will Be There Jim Hannah©1996
Spirit that touches like the wind,
And then makes love take me higher.
New ways to see and be.
Spirit that taught my soul to care,
And know for evermore, She will be there.
Goddess of the sunshine and of the rain.
Mother of creation fill me again.
Spirit that moves me like the stream,
That seems to run ever onward.
Places to see and be.
Spirit that meets me everywhere,
Tells me that if I look, She will be there.
Goddess of the mountain and of the sea,
Mother of creation come unto me, come to me…
Spirit that loves me to the end.
And then beyond all my knowing.
New dreams to see and be.
Spirit that calls me know to dare,
And when I give my all, She will be there.
Goddess of all people and of each one,
Mother of creation, new life begun.
Spirit that taught my soul to care,
And know forever and ever, she will be there.
Richard Wagamese, an indigenous man and brilliant writer, understood what it meant to be a human being in this world. He says, “I am all of it – though, feeling and experience. That translates to awe, joy and reverence. For all life, for all beings, for all Creation. Knowing this, understanding this, makes living the hardest thing of all – but the joy is in the challenge, the gradual day-by-day becoming.”
WE are stardust. We are part of the earth, not separate from it. Everything is the same stardust. We are arrogant enough to think we are better than everything else. But it seems to me that our arrogance is leading us towards the end of our time here. You see, we’re not killing the planet. Earth will continue and recover from us long after the human species is extinct.
But we have a choice. We can choose to accept and live into the reality that all is connected; that life is in everything; that more than humans have a soul. I personally believe that there is soul in all things – in dogs and whales, in trees and flowers, in mountains and meadows. Tragic news doesn’t have to be our future – it actually could be good news if enough of us rediscover and live into our real place in the universe…
All Is Connected Jim Hannah©2024
All is connected, the Cosmos is home.
Nothing is sep'rate, we're never alone.
So live every moment, be fully aware
That wherever we are, that wherever we are,
That wherever we are... love is there!
In loving union, the cosmos will sing.
Growing together, the best we can bring.
So live ev'ry moment, and banish all fear
Then wherever we are, then wherever we are,
Then wherever we are... love is here!
For deep compassion, the whole world awaits.
With our conviction, this promise creates.
So live ev'ry moment, yes, heed Spirit's call
For wherever we are, for wherever we are,
For wherever we are... love is all!
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