Sunday Sermon December 12, 2010 One with the Force
As I was sitting here trying to decide what to write I came across a quote on the back of one of those day by day calendars. Carl Sagan said ”If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe” That hit me and made me smile a bit. Here at the temple we learn that we are all a part of the force. We draw from it and upon our passing we return back to it. When reading this quote I thought how true this really is and how vivid the analogy is.
When you think about life and death many people express fear in dying. Fear of the new and unknown. What is there to fear except that which you do not embrace to be part of the cycle of life and knowledge? To me, knowing what I do about the way or the force and the quote above leads me to believe that a fear of death is nothing more than our selfish desires to keep what we have and what we believe is ours. I then took a look around me and started to think about what I have that is truly mine? What would I miss if it was taken from me? I have decided that that which is most important can never be taken away. My knowledge, my feelings, and my family are the things that truly matter in life.
I thought of this now in this season that is overwhelmed with frantic parents trying to find the perfect gift for a child. Angry shoppers fighting to get the precious discount on this year’s “must have” items pushing each other around. Why do we feel that the only was to make someone happy is to give them some material object that will be forgotten, in most cases, within a year when the crazy holiday season comes again with new “must have” items?
This Holiday season I would urge all of you, reguardless of your cultural beliefs, to try to find a deeper meaning in the season this year. Try to reflect on what each person means to you and tell them about it. This will in many ways be more valuable than anything you could buy. Try adding a hand made card to whatever gift you may give. If you do not celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah or other holidays at this time of year then just try a “here’s thinking about you day”
We all come from the force, Guided by the Force, and will return to the force. We are all connected in some way. We are made from the past and will be part of the future. We are all in a way just like the apple pies at the beginning not one of us came from nothing and I am proud to be part of this great community. Love each other, think not of yourselves, and realize how marvelous things can be.
