Heal the World

“To put the world in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order; we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right.”
-Confucius

A few years ago while walking through the parking lot of a major big box store, I saw a beautiful little boy sitting in a shopping cart being pushed by his mother. His arms were outstretched as if to embrace everyone in his presence, and as they approached me, he turned his joyful smile in my direction. As he looked at me, beaming, he held out his arms toward me. I felt his heart embracing me, as though he’d actually wrapped his arms around me, and I also felt my heart returning his embrace.

It all happened in just a few seconds, but it was a powerful and beautiful moment that I will never forget.

His mother looked and me and said, “He’s like this everywhere we go. He just wants to love the world. It’s so embarrassing.”

“Don’t be embarrassed,” I replied. “He’s beautiful.”

I believe babies and young children are our purest and most accessible example of spiritual engagement. They live entirely in the moment and are always express their truth. Upset one moment, they can become happy with lightning speed. It’s not until much later in life that we linger in sadness.

Children haven’t experienced enough involvement with the external world to displace their natural awareness of love, and they are naturally and openly connected to their spirits. There are no prolonged interfering thoughts or emotions that separate them from their spirits. They remind us of who we are and of the beauty that lies within us. Over time, however, that engagement with spirit dwindles, and as adults, we shift our focus to the physical realm. Still, spirit remains the core of our being and waits for our conscious return to it.

Each and every day of our lives, as Mahatma Gandhi said, is an opportunity, to “Be the change,” we want to see in the world. To that end, I want to share a powerful video with you featuring beautiful children.

Heal The World – Child Prodigy Cover

Nirali Kartik and Kartik Shah of Maati Baani, bring together 45 child prodigies from across the globe to “Heal The World.” Working online with musicians ranging from 5 to 13 years of age, Maati Baani released this video as a tribute to Michael Jackson on what would have been Jackson’s 58th birthday. Let this message of love and peace carry us forward throughout the year.