Celebrating Diversity, a Gift of the Divine

​Diversity is the nature of the Universe.  Look closely around yourself in nature.  All that is there in the world emanates with beauty and with diversity. You see no repetition of sameness. 

​Look at the majesty of the entire cosmos.  The lovely sculpting of the mountains, valleys, and rolling hills.  The vast varieties of beautiful colors and shapes of the plants – from flowers and fruits to grasses and trees.   And the spectacular forms and radiance of the stones such as amethyst, turquoise, citrine, and emerald.
John O’Donahue, the great Celtic poet and philosopher, speaks about the Divine as an artist who uses imagination for expression in creation.
“Everything that is – every tree, bird, star, stone and wave – existed first as a dream in the mind of the divine artist.  Indeed, the world is the mirror of the divine imagination and to decipher the depths of the world is to gain deep insights into the heart of God. The traces of the divine imagination are everywhere.  The beauty of God becomes evident in the beauty of the world.”
We see the beauty of the world in its diversity.  And, in this, see the beauty of the divine imagination.
In the shining radiance of the sun, the moon, and the stars.  

​In the lapping of each new wave upon the seashore.  A seashore that is scattered with shells, each one with an intricate and unique design. 

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​The multitude of animals that move through the water and the land.  Each one with a special ability.  
The eagles that soar high in the sky on their majestic wings and see in the distances with their keen sight.  The grand lions whose strength and courage carry them across the land as royal beasts. The buzzing bees that feed on the sweet nectar of blossoms while helping to provide food through their work for all human beings and animals. 
We see that the Divine loves diversity……..…………..loves difference. 
And the human being is truly a great expression of diversity of the Divine.  An incredible masterpiece of creativity.
Each and every single person is an expression of beauty and of uniqueness in individuality. 
​Take a moment to look at the faces of each individual you encounter.  You can see the evidence of their own personal stories of life upon their faces.  The stories of their origin, their culture and traditions, their families, and their own life’s events. 
Look into their eyes. You see the special expression of their own soul.  What lives as joys and sufferings, passions and longings, gifts and challenges in their lives

Your own beauty and uniqueness lives within you as an expression of the Divine. Your warmth of love within your heart, the fire of passion and creativity in your soul, your inner strength and courage to bring forth actions in the world. 
And yet, you, as unique and individual, are constantly changing and new. You are not the same this moment as you were yesterday.  You grow, change, transform, in every moment. 
And when you, as a unique expression of the Divine, come forward to offer your greatness, what a wonderful gift this is to the world, contributing to its wholeness and life.  A creative expression of the Divine within you, shared with the world. 
 
Diversity is the nature of the Universe.
We rejoice in and courageously honor the rich diversity within the Cosmos and expressed among individuals and across multiple cultures, religions and ancestral traditions.
 
The 9th principle of Creation Spirituality
 
Curious about the rich diversity of various spiritual traditions?  Find out more in my upcoming class on the Introduction to Creation Spirituality.