Universal connection

Do you believe in coincidence? Or you think there is a destiny involved when things magically 'meet'?

I believe in a phenomenon I've called a 'Universal connection'. Yesterday one of these events for profoundly influenced the mood I was and took me from feeling pretty low and depressed to feeling a joyous epiphany. Let me tell you what happened. You see, I do not believe in random coincidences arbitrary. My understanding is that life is a relationship between free will of humanity combined, and the will of a higher power that I call 'The Great Spirit. "I believe in a paradoxical kind of destiny that is intended by this higher power, but also can be altered by our own decisions we make every moment of everyday. Barriers and opportunities are presented and then we decide whether to take any specific action on the situation.

OK, so yesterday I did not feel very well, I have a history of depression and anxiety and I felt some event that happened to me as rather negative. Well it just so happens that the day before I received an email from my Tai Chi instructor, who had some link related to depression, as they know of my problem. I looked at a site that was some new kind of neurotechnology where listening to a certain type of CD is supposed to send his mind into a state of deep meditation. I am admittedly skeptical about such things as money is of course always had to exchange hands. The good thing about this particular site is that they offer a free sample CD that I ordered.

Anyway, I started to browse the information contained in this site and I came across some quotes from famous people. One that struck me from Rabbi Hillel and as my good friend at work is very interested in Jewish culture and religion, I cut and pasted into Messenger for him to read. As I was feeling down, I left work early and went home to read a little more than a book that I really enjoyed lately. It's called 'Sacred Journey of the peaceful warrior' and is written by Dan Millman. It 's the sequel to a book I really loved the title,' Way of the Warrior quiet '. After reading a chapter or two I came to chapter 17: 'Courage Outcast'. The chapter begins with these words:

If not for myself,
Who will be for me?
If I am only for myself,
What am I?
And if not now, when?
(Hillel, Sayings of the Fathers)

This was the exact quote that I sent to my friend earlier that day! Of all the quotations in the world, out of all the chapters I could read to, out of all the days of my life, this quote came twice in one day! I knew there must be a reason for this to happen so with some help from my friend I did a little research on the internet today. This quote was translated from Hebrew as I now see what has been interpreted in many different ways. This is the general meaning that I have come to believe that words mean:

'If I am not for myself, who will be for me?' regards self-esteem. This means that if you do not believe in the spiritual aspects of your self and love yourself for your god and not just your ego, then others will just see you as someone who has really established its own identity. If you do not love and have confidence in yourself, then others, of course, are difficult to love and trust you.

'If I am only for myself, what am I?' For me it is then spread your love and faith of those around you. It 'important to do things that make you feel better with your self-esteem, but only do things for yourself is selfish. The best way to become a strong and happy person is through service that we can do for others. We understand that others are just another form of ourselves, the 'I' that is intrinsic to all forms of life in the Universe (Great Spirit), and their welfare is as important as ours.

The last line, 'And if not now, when?' refers to the action. It's all well and good to have this knowledge, but is the act of putting into action is of utmost importance. Now is the only time that is very real. The past is past and can never be lived again, while the future has not appeared yet and some of us (while in human form) that will never come. Every second could be our last, so now is the time to put our knowledge and beliefs in the workplace by integrating them into our every movement.

I think these 'connections' universal happen around us every day of our lives. We must focus our attention only to see them, even though they are sometimes so deep that it will only jump right out and slap in the face!