Our Connection Is Not an Option...It's A Necessity

The thigh bone connected to the back bone,
The back bone connected to the neck bone,
The neck bone connected to the head bone,
Oh, hear the word of the Lord!

The foregoing is an excerpt from the song Dem Dry Bones, with melody composed by James Weldon Johnson and lyrics written by an unknown author. While in a Yoga class this week, the instructor commented on how each yoga posture has an effect on the entire body, including the internal organs, and how our awareness of this connection can enhance the benefits derived from the posture itself. I thought about this in terms of how President Obama had inadvertently referenced the importance of a 'national connectedness' in an interview with the television program 60 Minutes. He implied that as a result of his experience while in office, he would spend less time trying to garner the support of the Republican congress and more time on assessing and meeting the needs of the American people. My contention is that the president has realized or remembered that until all our needs are met, until we all collaborate and agree on 'what we gon do', there will be no real peace and freedom for any of us. We're connected, we're one, and until we initiate and sustain our actions from that premise, division, dissatisfaction, and the subsequent dismantling  of life as we know it will continue to plague us.

It's no mystery that there are only a few people on the entire planet who have collectively amassed almost all the material wealth. Along with that wealth is a semblance of power that seeks to strengthen and maintain their status by keeping the rest of us competitive and at each other's throats. A sense of I got to make sure that mine is bigger, better, and 'righter' than yours has become our mindset, and we spend a lot of our time concerned and bickering about things like: the Republicans or  Democrats being the best party, the Chicago Bears being a better team than the Oakland Raiders, Christians or Mormons being the only ones going to heaven, whether or not Haile Berry looks better than Angelina Jolie, if Hip Hop has a good or bad influence on the black community, or if a "Big Mac" is better than a "Whopper". These and many other issues keep us at odds  among ourselves while the supposed 'powers that be' are dedicated to collectively insuring that their stronghold remains intact. Their semblance of power is fueled by our elusive desire to be like them, and we thereby lose sight of who we are...one people whose existence is made manifest by One Creator for the sole purpose of helping one another experience heaven right here on earth. Once we realize that it ain't about what me or she has, but about learning how to depend on and treat one another, we'll be able to experience a sense of wealth and power beyond our deepest imaginings and our wildest dreams. We can then transition from the mindset of limitations to a consciousness of more than enough.

I propose that once President Obama is re-elected he can start incorporating the thoughts of the people in his decision making, from a foundation of inclusiveness rather than 'elitism'. He  can involve the recently unemployed in balancing the budget, because they have learned how to eliminate debt from experience and can assist the 'experts' who rely primarily on analyzing statistics, conjecturing solutions, and lining their pockets. He can call in retired insurance execs who are willing to tell the truth about insurance fraud on the corporate side, and have the knowledge and desire to formulate a means for allocating medical benefits in an honest and equitable manner. As for foreign affairs he can bring both allies and potential foes to the table, and they can all come to terms with the fact that their quest for nuclear power stems from a desire to keep up with the "Jones's. As my buddy Buzzy used to say, "White folks got it, you know I want it." From these and similar meetings an international forum can be established where the major focus is making sure that everybody has what they need, so that they don't try to get somebody else's.  You inferred the concept of 'connectedness' in your interview Mr. President, and I don't know how and if you intend to incorporate it, I'm just sayin. We can solve the problems together, as one, by  being inclusive and collaborative in our approach. 

"The neck bone connected to the head bone...". I remember singing that song as a child without realizing that it was a Negro Spiritual, because we never included the words 'Oh, hear the word of the Lord!  Well the 'Word' is and always will be 'One'. We all can do our part by recognizing, legitimizing, and utilizing a sense of oneness in our homes, on our jobs, and wherever and whenever we find ourselves in the company of others. All we need do is see ourselves in others and do our best to promote and solidify our connection to one another. We can sit at the table and eat dinner together. We can take a walk with a loved one. We can say Hi to the person walking by. We can give a dollar and/or a smile to the one with the cup in her hand. Neither the president nor anyone else can make anybody do anything, but our example can and will lead to beneficial results. Our every action affects another, and in turn affects all of us. We're one ya'll...we're connected. Let's do everything we do with that in mind.


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