Our lives are inseparable from each other and from all forms of life. Like Indigenous traditions teach, we are connected in ways that go far beyond our immediate surroundings. Every act we perform—whether towards a person, an animal, a plant, or the earth—affects this greater community to which we belong. Giving credence to this idea—that all people and things are related to one another—opens us to immense possibility. This awareness calls us to approach each other with respect and care, recognizing that our actions ripple through the whole. Seeing ourselves as kin with the earth, as the Lakota do with their prayer "mitakuye oyasin" (interrelatedness) inspires us to rethink how we sustain and protect what sustains us. Living in unity with creation becomes not just a choice but a responsibility we share.
May we walk in harmony with all creation,
honoring our shared connections
and embracing the possibilities they bring.
(inspired by Randy and Edith Woodley, Journey to Eloheh)