Scrjbbles: J's random writings

I believe we could nearly eliminate international conflicts if every town, in every part of the world, every evening, followed the lead of a certain city in southwest China. Zhongdian, in Yunnan province, also known by it’s current “touristy” name, Shangri-La City, holds the clue to how peace and simple joy could spread far and wide.  When I felt this experience in action, I became convinced of the power of a community in harmony. To this day, I hold this memory dear in my collection of purely moving and spiritual remembrances.

Every evening, in the town square, shopkeepers, community residents, and even tourists come together.  Loudspeakers placed along the edge of the square beckon with recordings of regional music.  Tourists like me, take notice, wondering what is about to begin.  A few townspeople, dressed in traditional garb, begin to step gently in a simple sequence. As more people gather, they hold hands and form a small circle.  The circle grows, expanding in larger loops as additional folks join in what is becoming a beautiful, flowing, simple dance.  Elder women, younger men, teenagers, a group of friends, and a local man with a prosthetic leg, smile kindly to us tourists, and as they extend their welcoming hands invite us to join the  growing coils of rings to dance. 

A grandpa hums as he holds his little grandson in his lap.  I see both of them happy, watching the dancers. They make me even happier.

We are all dancers now, one with the music, together in lovely peace and happiness.  Songs on the speakers change, but the spirit of lovely joy continues.

So simple. Anyone, even those who swear they cannot dance, find it easy to follow the gentle dance.  Smiles spread.  Joy pervades.  Shyness goes away.  Language differences have no bearing.  Skin color is irrelevant. Physical appearances do not matter.  We join.  Together in joy.  In peace.

My heart swells.  This sumptuous harmonious dance sweeps me in and moves me greatly.  I tell myself that I will remember this dance, on this evening, in this place, with this feeling, for the rest of my life.  And I vow to share this feeling as much as I can through my words and everyday actions.

The Zhongdian dance reminds me of the Native American Earth Dances I’ve watched in various communities’ powwows.  Beautiful.  Mindful.  Gentle.  Embracing. Traditional. Connected. Soft and welcoming.  Ever growing, unending loops to connect us as one group in pure communion.  

I pondered the power of simple dance in a town. If my own townsfolk gathered every evening in the center of town, we would know one another in community.  Differences could disappear.  Common understanding could swell.  Acceptance could prevail.  Inclusion would be the norm. Laughter would ring.

If every town, across the world held a similar simple gathering like Zhondian’s we could KNOW one another better.  We could appreciate one another more.  We could be bound in universal joy instead of separated by differences.   

Wanna dance?  There will be one this evening in Shangri-La.