Pilgrimage of the Heart: Gateway to the Circle of Love

Today we explored the site of the Last Supper, King David's Tomb and the location where Jesus was imprisoned before his trial and crucifixion. These places are movable. What? According to archeologists and historians, over the hundreds of years these places were not where they are today. Many different wars, discoveries and scientific verifications have placed the room of the Last Supper in several locations, the same with King David's tomb and where Jesus was imprisoned. And it is likely over time these places will "move" again.

For me it's not important that I am standing in the room, or the cell or the tomb. What moves me is the remembrance and presence with which I open my heart to the meanings of these places, wherever they are today.

During the Last Supper, Jesus was not just sharing a meal he was sharing nourishment. The nourishment of that which is universal - that we all share - love, companionship, sacredness, connection, reverence, liberation, healing, respect, trust and truth. This Soul Food - bread for our body and wine for our heart, connects body and soul and in both the Christian and Jewish traditions, and provides an opportunity to connect with that which is universal.

Connecting to the universal message in the teachings of these places, in the stories and events that birthed from here I am attending to what is "sparked in my chest." Sufi's invite us to be conscious of God. If I am conscious of God then I am present. Divine qualities are only able to flow in the present moment. In being conscious of the Divine I/we are released from that which is conditioned in us - fear, judgement, expectation, agenda, ego.

In this presence and consciousness of God, I listen. What do I hear? A Sufi story talks of a man longing for connection with God, Allah, and he prayed constantly, daily - and then was asked "Do you ever get an answer?" Upon considering this question, he stopped praying because he did not believe he was getting an answer from Allah. A Sufi spirit prophet came to him and asked why he had stopped praying. Upon hearing the man's answer the spirit prophet explained that our anguished inner longing for connection with God is God's reply to us - it is our connection to God.

I seek this connection, this authentic community of life. I seek what Rumi calls the Circle of Love. The gateway to this Circle of Love is communion with others who we give and receive Love (unconditionally); who we can trust and be vulnerable with; and who loves and seeks truth (in whatever manifestation it comes).

How can I offer, receive, cultivate and recognize the Circle of Love when it is present? How can I connect to God/Divine and live within this Circle of love. The good news is that this is a compassionate lifelong awareness that requires spiritual practices. The good news is that we human's were made to be asleep a good part of the time, so that might awaken to this beauty. And in this awakening we find joy in remembering, again!!

May we all continue to long for connection to the Divine in whatever form, by whatever name so that we might awaken once again to and with compassion, love, trust and truth, within the Circle of Love.