Preface: Before I delve into the topic of the title, I should share something that I really never talk about, unless asked: I am Eckist, following and studying the path of the Light and Sound of God (Universe, Sugmad, etc.). And out of that study this month, one of the suggestions was to “thank” those who lead me to Eck in the first place.

I can conjure up memories of a meeting forty plus years ago at CSU where I was first introduced to Eckankar. I can picture some faces – and there are other events that come into focus. So to all those people who have assisted me in placing my feet on this spiritual path, “I thank you.”

This kind of “appreciation exercise” is one I have done before for other purposes. In moments of quiet contemplation, I have recalled individuals and events. And in that mental space I have called out my appreciation or asked for forgiveness depending upon the specific memory I was looking at. It is funny how our memories so easily recall the “major people” or the times when we were either “heroes” or “villains.”

But there are all sorts of people who have touched my life directly – teachers and store clerks, landlords and co-workers, bosses and employees, and, of course, family and friends… and enemies. If I stretch back to my earliest remembered mind picture and travel up to today, there are a myriad of people I can recall.

I was lucky enough to spend time with both of my parents not long before each one of them translated. I had a chance to express my love and thanks and to talk about personal things… But I will not have that opportunity for everyone lodged in my memory. Yet, I believe it is possible to transcend time and space and at this moment – right now – to convey my thanks and my love to you all for the gift of attention that each one of you gave me and all that came with that attention.

End of Preface.

“Imagine all the people.” – John Lennon.

And now on to the topic at hand: All those people I will never meet.

I have often wondered how I have survived so long – it is certainly not something I have done alone. In fact, very little of my survival has depended upon my own endeavors. I live in a house that a group of strangers built. All the clothes I have ever worn were made by someone else – some of those people live or lived 10,000 miles away. I have never raised a cow, but I have eaten tons of hamburgers. Beyond a few vegetables from my gardens, a rabbit, a few fish and a pheasant, all of the food I have eaten was gathered or grown and transported by some one else – tens of thousands of strangers.

Then there are all those people in restaurants that cooked my food behind closed doors. And how about the folks who built the buildings and shops and paved the roads. Not to mention those strangers who designed the computer I am using and the keyboard I type on. Somebody built these myriad things that I use and I don’t know them. From day one ’til now every material good – from diapers to dishes to furniture to books and on and on were made by someone else for my use. Plus add in all the knowledge and systems and energy that has been generated making my life’s journey possible – all those people – it boggles the mind.

Yes, I know that I or someone paid for these things and to some extent that balances out the scales. Yet there is too much thought, effort and work turning energy, materials and ideas into physical realities, too many interconnections of events and people to be so easily covered with a mere exchange of money. Just think of all the words created for my use…

John Donne was right when he wrote that “no man is island entire of itself.” Up until today, I had just not given thought to how large the continent is, the society of strangers, past and present, that have been at the root of my support system.

When someone suggests to me that I give a little kindness to my fellow human – I now realize that there are a lot of reasons to do so. How can one pay back what has all been given? I can, at least, acknowledge that they are there.

So to all those strangers, past, present and future, I say, “Gratitude! Gratitude! Gratitude!”

May the blessings be.

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