The 40 days to Oneness and Global Oneness Day by Anakha Coman and James Twyman

Practice 30

The Endurance of Oneness

“Let nothing disturb thee,
Let nothing affright thee;
All things are passing;
God never changeth.”
— St. Teresa of Avila

“God is with those who persevere.”
— from The Koran

“To be an artist . . . means to ripen as the tree, which does not force its sap, but stands unshaken in the storms of spring with no fear that summer might not follow.”
— Rainer Maria Rilke (translated by Joan M. Burnham)

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Exercise

Facing the dark and constricted places within is a continuous spiritual practice. The journey into Oneness asks that you bear all things, believe all things, and endure all things in service to becoming an expression and embodiment of love. This requires courage, willingness, humility, and discipline. You must give yourself and your life over and over again to Divine love, humbly offering the ways in which you fall into forgetfulness to God. In the endurance of Oneness, your life becomes your testament to the living reality of Oneness. This is a marathon, not a short sprint! In your journey into Oneness, you’ll discover endurance that you’ve never before experienced. Through this practice, your fear and illusion of separation become annihilated, and the brilliance of your soul is revealed. In the words of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin: “Above all, trust in the slow work of God.”

Take out your journal, and reflect on the following questions: What have you endured on your spiritual path? How has this molded or served you? In what ways have you grown? What are you learning about the endurance of Oneness? When and how do you experience the resiliency and perseverance of your soul? How do these qualities benefit the growing Oneness?

For today’s practice, spend 15 to 20 minutes outside in nature. Find a tree that you can sit or stand beside. Settle into your body and your breath. Come into communion with this beloved tree. Imagine that this living being is your guide who has been Divinely selected to teach you more about the endurance of Oneness. Reach out and touch your tree. Examine its leaves and branches. What kind of bark does it have? Can you see its roots? What special markings does it have? See its beauty and magnificence; take in the details of this living expression of Oneness. Feel your connection, your Oneness, with this sacred being.

Now take a step back to view the tree from a wider perspective. Ask the tree, “What have you endured on your journey? What has it taken for you to grow on this earth?” Listen to its lessons of endurance. How are you similar? How have you persevered just like this tree has? Trust what you hear. Has this tree endured severe storms, droughts, or earthquakes? Has it been uprooted? Have parts of it been cut down?

Ask the tree for guidance in your own life. How can it help you with a challenge or heartbreak that you’re experiencing right now? How can it fortify you with its message of perseverance? Allow it to bless you just by being in its resilient, unwavering presence. Let yourself become strong and bold like this tree, and bring the endurance of Oneness into the center of your life.

Affirmation

I AM enduring all things in love, faithfully living my vow to serve the growing Oneness.