E pluribus unum

Out of many one. This is one of the original mottoes of the United States of America. It doesn’t get much attention these days as politicians seek to divide us. It occurred to me that politics can be yet another form of violence and terrorism. Throughout the gospel Jesus speaks of oneness. St. Francis of Assisi understood that very well in the Canticle of the Sun. I came across this quote this morning from Thich Nhat Hanh which expresses that oneness in yet another beautiful way.

“God is Black.
But God is not only Black.
God is also White,
God is also a Flower.
So when a lesbian thinks of
her relationship with God,
if she practices deeply,
she can find out that
God is also Lesbian.
And God is Gay, too.
God is no less.
God is Lesbian,
and also Gay,
Black, White,
a Chrysanthemum.
And when you
discriminate against
Black or White
or Flower or Lesbian,
you discriminate
against God,
which is the basic
Goodness in you.”

One Reply to “E pluribus unum”

  1. So true. Thich Nhat Hanh is one of my favorite authors. I love his journal Fragrant Palm Leaves. He speaks so beautifully about God and unity. He has inspired me to strive for unity with the universe. Nice find on the quote!

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