Long ago, in a village nestled between forests and rivers, people lived peacefully but often felt isolated—from each other, and from something greater they couldn’t name.
One day, a child named Arin asked the village healer, “Why do I sometimes feel alone, even when I’m surrounded by others?”
The healer smiled and led Arin into the forest. They walked until they reached a large clearing where sunlight streamed through the canopy, dancing on the earth like golden threads.
“Look closely,” said the healer, pointing to the spaces between the trees. “Though each tree stands on its own, beneath the surface, their roots are entwined. They share water, nutrients—life. They are never truly alone.”
Arin listened, wide-eyed.
“You are like the trees,” the healer continued. “Your heart, your spirit—it’s part of something much larger. The Divine lives in you, as it does in everyone and everything.”
They paused near a stream. “And when you admire another’s light,” the healer said, “don’t wish it were yours. Instead, let it remind you that your own light exists too, waiting to be seen, embraced, and shared.”
Years passed, and Arin grew up remembering that lesson. Whenever loneliness crept in or comparison clouded the mind, Arin would walk into the forest, press a hand to a tree, and remember the great web of life. That unseen connection. That eternal light.
And over time, Arin’s light shone not in grand ways, but in everyday kindnesses—a gentle word, a shared smile, a helping hand. Others began to feel lighter around Arin, more seen. And in doing so, their lights began to glow too.
One day, a stranger came to the village and asked, “What makes this place so peaceful?”
And a child, much like Arin once was, simply replied, “Because here, we remember: we are never separate. We are all one light.”
audio version:
Service Reflection
The fundamental lesson threaded through this service is:
We are all intrinsically connected— to each other, to Spirit, to the Earth, and to the Divine. Through recognising and honouring that connection, we awaken the light within ourselves and others, walking in truth, compassion, and unity.
This core message is expressed across:
- The “Web of Life” lecture theme, which affirms our interconnectedness with all living beings and the Earth.
- The story “The Light Within”, illustrating that each person carries a unique, divine light which awakens through self-awareness.
- The healing meditation, where participants are bathed in divine light, reminding them of their worth, guidance, and inner strength.
- Prayers and blessings, which repeatedly emphasise unity, compassion, inner light, and love as guiding forces.
