A Time to Kneel
“A desire to kneel down sometimes pulses through my body, or rather it is as if my body has been meant and made for the act of kneeling. Sometimes, in moments of deep gratitude, kneeling down becomes an overwhelming urge, head deeply bowed, my hands before my face.” ~ Etty Hillesum
There was a deep peace in the heart of Etty Hillesum. She wrote extensively about her love for fellow human beings while being persecuted and awaiting the certain fate of deportation from her home in Amsterdam during World War II. She was one of 1.1 million who died at Auschwitz concentration camp but her faith in God and people live on in the many letters and diaries she left behind. The thought that kneeling was Etty’s demonstration of awe is one that should inspire us today.
I wonder what it might be like if we all knelt a little bit more and stood tall a bit less. The thought of making ourselves vulnerable in the kneeling position is a foreign one to us. But the image of getting on both knees to help a child or to pray at night is universally embraced. The reverence and wonder demonstrated by such an act can only be matched by how defenseless we become in this position. It is time for more kneeling. It is time for becoming so open to God and each other that we are once again willing to find the common ground necessary for a cessation of all the misunderstandings and animosity which are destroying us.
Our Common Humanity
When we begin to embrace the sacredness of every person-to-person encounter as a kind of holy meeting, relationships become irresistible.
“My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together.” ~ Desmond Tutu
We get to choose whether we will be connected with one another or not. But if we don’t, how can we ever be fully human? It seems so much easier to disconnect rather than to struggle with personal relationships. The risk of rejection and pain can be daunting.
Life can be confusing. We know, for example, that understanding ourselves requires some disciplined work. We cannot connect with our brothers if we are disconnected from our inner selves. Likewise, however, we cannot connect with our inner selves if we are disconnected from our community of friends, family, and neighbors.
This is also true in our mysterious relationship with God. When we begin to accept that each human being is a reflection of God, a child of God, and a manifestation of God, the confusion begins to disappear. When we begin to embrace the sacredness of every person-to-person encounter as a kind of holy meeting, relationships become irresistible. God is for us, with us and within us. It is in this reality that we are able to connect with each other, with ourselves and with our God.
“Your neighbor is your unknown self.” ~ Miguel de Unamuno
Robert Kenneth Jones is an innovator in the treatment of addiction and childhood abuse.In a career spanning over four decades, his work helping people recover from childhood abuse and addiction has earned him the respect of his peers.His blog, An Elephant for Breakfast, testifies to the power of the human spirit to overcome the worst of life’s difficulties. We encourage you to visit and share this rich source of healing, inspiration and meditation.
Contact Bob Jones on Linkedin
Bob Jones’ blog An Elephant for Breakfast