With the holiday season upon us the vast array of traditions and rituals of many of the world’s religions are on display. While we can enjoy these customs, and make note of the joy they bring, especially to children we should not get bogged down in the ethnocentric elitism that turn colorful pageants into trumpeting one’s own religious beliefs.

Tolerance for all people’s traditions and beliefs is the hall mark of a truly spiritual person. When one sees the face of God in all the creatures of the earth then we can be sure there dwells an enlightened soul. All of us are the same. We are all the children of God. We might appear to come in many shades or speak a different way or dress differently but these things are but veils we wear. We all have come from the same place and we all will return there after the transition of death. There is only one family of souls, and all the people of earth are part of it.

It pains me to see so much hate on this small world. All this hate is delusion and quite insane. People all over the world hate and kill one another based on things that are transparencies. We are all in this together. We are brothers and sisters riding the roller coaster of the earth experience together. Imagine how much we could change and accomplish if we worked together instead of pitting ourselves against our siblings.

When we are born we are helpless and innocent in this lifetime. Who cannot look down into the eyes of their newborn child and not see the light of God there and the amazing potential. When we look into the eyes of every human being on this earth we should see them as this baby. This is where we all started out and we truly remain the innocent newborn in the eyes of the universe. Show compassion for your fellow traveler and surely that compassion will be returned to you.

In the United States we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with Christmas. He was a man of amazing compassion and patience. When we celebrate all of our holidays let us pay tribute by exemplifying compassion. So many people are willing to fight or kill for their beliefs and this is completely missing the mark. There are many paths to the light. The religions and customs we honor now are simply transitory rites. Five thousand years ago our ancestors had other customs, rites and holidays and in five thousand years we will be celebrating in a completely different way. The nature of this earth experience is change. Everything in the physical dimension comes into existence, stays for a short while and then fades back into the either. This is true for religions, for customs, for nations, for people, and for the earth, the sun and the universe itself. This is immutable law. The one thing that is eternal is spirit. Our soul is always part of the light and the love we show will reverberate forever.

Love, compassion, patience and tolerance are what is needed this holiday season. When we personify these traits not only do we brighten the world and the other souls we interact with but we raise our vibration and the vibration of the world as well. For too long we have based our values on the clan mentality, fearing and hating the people different then ourselves. Now the world is a smaller place. The interconnections of every person and nation on the earth are more pronounced then ever. We truly need each other for our survival. Everything we do affects every other person on this planet. With global warming now a reality we can see that we all are inexorably linked with our fellow travelers. We are one.

So this holiday season enjoy yourself and be happy for the family, friends and loved ones that surround you. Most of all be tolerant and show compassion and friendship to all the people of the earth. We have always been together and we will need to come together now more than ever before to save our planet and ourselves. We are all the children of God. Please treat each other gently.