Support

O Lord, support us all the day long…. – Book of Common Prayer

Behind everything material, stands the spiritual, supporting it, and without which there could be no material. – The Science of Mind, pg 452

The couple making the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem must have counted on the support of others along the way to ease the trip and provide needed supplies. In the days before motels and fast food, travelers had to rely on the generosity of relatives, friends, and even strangers for everything from a cup of water to temporary shelter.

As we progress on our life’s journey we also come to depend on others. From the earliest moments of life to our last breath on this physical plane we look to others for nourishment and support. No one walks the path of life alone. And that is as it should be because other people, our companions on this road, are both the glory and the agony of the journey.

Our best, most exalted experiences occur with others, and the greatest challenges we encounter are also the result of interactions with our fellow human beings. We all act as teachers and guideposts for each other. Daily contact with family, friends, and even strangers are opportunities to explore areas of our own personalities. We experience growth in relation to how we encounter and deal with the challenges that arise from our contacts with others.

Ultimately, as we work at it, we will find beneath the exterior a wonder, a transcendence, as sacredness that can only be ascribed to God Itslef. This is the “image and likeness” in which we have all been created. And we find it in others.

I rejoice in the wonder of my life journey. Every day I glimpse in others a magnificence that can only be a reflection of the divine. I respect it, I honor it.