Hello there, friends of Unity Joy of Life. 

There's a spiritual grace that's called respect. And we think we know what the word means because we've been trained with respect. We've been trained to be polite since childhood, right? We say, "please", "thank you", "don't interrupt". 

But spiritual respect, well, that's something altogether different. Because the funny thing is, is that when we're tired, when we're rushed, when we're irritated, that's when respect usually just vanishes, right? And yet, that is precisely when we need to practice spiritual respect. And we need to practice it in a way that may be being overly polite. You say, "please", not out of a habit, but out of presence, just being present with the person in front of you. You say, "thank you", as if you truly mean that you are thanking the God within another person.

In fact, each of these bodies are earth suits that God dwells within. So you're saying "thank you" to the God within another person. You say, "excuse me", as if the other person actually matters. You step aside, you slow down, you let maybe an elderly woman have your seat at the airport at a crowded gate. You wave at the person who just let you be first at a four-way stop. You thank the waitress. You look at people in the eye, and you stop barging through the world as if it was just merely furniture. You realize you are not moving through a world of objects, but rather you are moving through living souls, right? Each person is a living soul. 

Now here's the catch.

You cannot truly respect humanity unless you step into a non-critical, non-judgmental state of mind. This also applies to people who irritate you. You might have some of those in your life. It applies to those that confuse you or maybe even disgust you. It's a spiritual practice, my friends. It's never said that planet earth was easy. Planet earth is the master class, and respect is one of the practices that makes your life easier. And just so you know, it doesn't mean that you have to be in agreement with everyone. You don't have to agree with people, but you have to honor them. You can say, "I hear what you're saying. I don't agree with it. My point of view is different, but I honor your right to believe and choose what feels true to you".

Respect, well, it allows difference without hostility. You can allow people to hold beliefs that you find may be completely wrong without arguing, without attacking, without canceling them. So spiritual respect looks like it's not intimidating. It's not manipulating. It's not frightening people into compliance. It's not trying to control their character. It is walking through the world with a generosity of spirit while honoring the freedom of others. 

So maybe this new year, maybe this could be a spiritual practice for you. Just take it on as a daily practice of being present with all the earth suits that God dwells within.

My friends, may you walk gently through the world practicing respect as a quiet way of loving God in every form. 

Until next time, I'm keeping the faith for you. God bless you.

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