The Spirit and Scripture

Fred wrote:
"Ephesians 2:8,9 "8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast."

We do good deeds because we have been forgiven. He who is forgiven much, loves much. And after we have done everything we can do we must say, "It was our duty." In other words, it earned no "brownie points". It is not grace and works that saves us. It is grace alone. Our good deeds are a response to the grace of God"

It seems to me that it is not boasting to say that we feel compelled by The Spirit to use our gifts to help humanity. I have a hard time believing that anyone who simply hoards their grace is in any way improving the positive power in the universe. I believe that when we are truly listening for the "voice" of The Spirit, we are compelled to do good. "Every time I feel The Spirit moving in my heart, I'm afraid."

Just as  writer feels compelled to write, a singer feels compelled to sing, and a scientist feels compelled to seek answers, a person with The Spirit feels compelled to act in compassion for creation.There can be no peace without turning that Spirit into action.

Gayle wrote:

We do not necessarily need to read Scripture to hear the voice of God in our innermost being.  What Scripture does is confirm to us that it was God speaking, and not our own voice.  It is hard to learn to trust that inner voice without having Scripture to confirm it.  But when we have heard God speaking, and then He leads us to a particular verse that we did not even know existed, then and only then do we begin to have confidence that we are hearing God and not ourselves.  The process is a kind of "school of the Holy Spirit."  What is required is that we desire to learn, that we desire to hear, that we pray, "Lord, I want to see You;" "Lord, I want to hear You."  This kind of prayer will not go unanswered.

I have long had problems with subscribing to the notion that only some of the universe is privy to the "voice" of The Spirit, and that this voice must be previously written by others to be the true voice of The Spirit of Divinity. I have experienced too much evidence to the contrary. This is why I believe that we must expand our acceptance of what we consider "sacred" scripture.

I believe we are baptized in The Spirit of our community before our births. The Spirit imparted with the waters of our mothers wombs, when we are conceived in loving commitment, will sustain us as long as that love is kept alive. Fathers must commit to feeding this fire of loving commitment in order for The Spirits of the mothers and babies to thrive.

Communities must commit to supporting and nurturing these commitments. I have as much issue with selling human sperm and ovum as I do with abortion, and as much problem with killing the father of a family in war as I do with human sacrifice. The Spirit only thrives within committed community.

Why are we so intent on preaching that the sins of the fathers are passed down to the sons, and not on the commitment of the parents and the community being the embodiment of The Spirit in our daughters and sons?

My Darling Daughters

It is painful watching parts of myself struggle again through this life on earth;
I see glimpses of my young self in my daughter and in those she gave birth.
I wanted so badly to shelter them from my mistakes and any harm,
The only time I felt at peace was when they were sleeping in my arms.

There is so much joy in watching them use the strengths they have from others,
Their parents and community members who are their other fathers and mothers.
Their school, their church, their grandparents who have all done their parts
To respect, love, guide and protect their minds, their souls, and their hearts.

As we enter this new phase of a cherished child learning to fly solo,
Parts of all of our souls and selves will, with her, surely go.
We will remain available for guidance and for extra strength
When she feels that her own resources may be completely spent.

To My Granddaughter as She Graduates

For what do you want to be remembered?
Is it for a soccer or scholastic trophy?
Or is it for the generous, kind adult
That you have worked hard to be?

Do you want to leave a legacy
Of how much property you own,
Or the bright light in the universe
That your life of justice has shone?

How will you give enough back
To leave a positive balance,
When you have so many blessings;
Was it simply by blind chance?

Or do you think you were chosen
To be an example in the world
Of the harmony on earth as in heaven
That The Prophet Jesus foretold?

You may face fears and fall
Many times on your life's path,
But I know your faith and family
Will forever be your ballast.

From the time that you were born,
You burned with such bright energy;
I'm grateful that you choose to share
Some of your beautiful light with me.

Community and Commitment

I sincerely believe that what we call religion is the defining of the undefinable. I realize we all need boundaries, so I understand this need, but I refuse to believe that any one generation or group of people has the only truth. Life is not binary; it is not a set of ones and zeros, as much as we would like for it to be that simple.

I believe that personal responsibility is what makes us above other animals, and compassion for the rest of creation is what makes us fully human. The Yiddish have a term for a person who embodies this. I think the highest compliment that one Yiddish person can give another is to call another a "mensch," (a real human being). I think this is rather analogous to a some calling another a "saint" or an "angel on earth."

If we are born with no capacity for free will, as is the case with certain brain injuries and other pre-birth and birth traumas, we will never reach our full humanity without constant guidance from one who is willing to take full responsibility for, not only their own actions, but for the life-time guidance and supervision of another. I am so fortunate that in giving birth, I was never tasked with this decision, but I understand those who don't feel prepared for such a huge commitment, especially those who did not willingly choose to copulate.

It may be that, in times past, there were communities in which all adults shared equally in the care of all, from birth to death. We do not live in such a society. Even the most religious of us are usually not willing or able to commit to being always available to the constant needs of those who are unable to lead full lives. We may be willing to take care of "our own," as in those of our blood, but how many of us are willing or able to commit our full lives to caring for the young, the disabled, the weak, and the dying without need for respite or remuneration?

If religions exist for mutual lifetime commitment to one another, perhaps there will be no more abortion. Until that time, I don't like it, but I understand what leads some to make that decision. I struggled to care for my own children with my limited emotional and physical resources; I know I am unable to start all over at this stage in my life. And even if I was willing and able, chances are I would not outlive the child. Who would commit to taking over at my death?

Religion of Deed, Rather than Creed

There is much discussion about whether sanctity comes through faith or through good works. Faithfulness isn't simply believing something to be true; faithfulness is following the path that is dictated by these truths.

Judaism seems to lay out a path for peace among those beings born with the special spark of Divinity that gives us the potential to be human. Jesus said that all the commandments can be boiled down to faithfulness (love, commitment) to The Divine in the heavens and The Divine in each other. "Love God (Godliness) with your whole heart, soul, and being, and your neighbor as you love yourself."

We are creatures that can turn belief and intent into action, if we choose to do so. Loving with one's whole being calls for doing. Giving our lives in the service of justice is the essence of faithfulness. It may be harder to live for a cause than it is to die for one.

My friend Susan, a devout Jew wrote, "loving deeds are the manifestations of godliness in each of us. And, it's also why I can really relate to the idea that Judaism is a "religion of deed, rather than creed." The operative word here may be "loving."

"Good" deeds for self-serving reasons are not loving. A corporation that gives to charitable causes to build business for itself may be contributing to society's well-being, but it is the loving deeds of the money in ministry through the hands of the ministers (every one of us called to action) that are the living out of one's faithfulness to The Divine way.

Limitless Love

It seems to me that the question is not whether God, Yahweh, Allah is a person, but whether God, Yahweh, Allah is also other forms of energy and matter. I think the answer is yes, and that we are each able to "see" The Divine in many manifestations: rivers of milk and honey, manna, a parting sea, a burning bush, a bit of bread and wine, a man living a perfect life physically ministering to others and giving his life to show his sincerity, a flame descending from the heavens onto our heads. Each of us is given a gift of experience in the manner that will be most effective for our souls. Mostly, I experience The Divine in the eyes, voices, touches, work, and smells of other people as they share their bits of Divine Energy with me.

It believe it is wrong to pretend that my manifestation is the only valid "face" of Divinity. This is probably why the Jews had laws against physical representations of The Almighty. It is too limiting. I find myself praying to all those who came before me, physically living and physically dead. When I ask a friend for a favor, with full faith that this friend will respond lovingly to my need, this is as much a prayer in my life as any other prayer that I pray.When friends simply show up, and I don't even know how they knew my need, this is as much Divine intervention as any other gift of Grace.

My beloved Richard wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for my angels on earth who held me and him while he lay in a coma. Would it have been the will of The Almighty to take him if these people didn't show up to intervene? Probably, but their love for him and me was so great that they were willing to pour it out onto us until our light was strong enough to go on again alone. Would we have had the same result if we had all simply sat in a circle and prayed. I'll never know, but I don't think so.

Two physician friends, with two specialties that were needed to save him "happened" to be our best friends and "happened" to show up at the critical times in the critical places. My daughter and son and their children came and loved us with huge passion for physical life. Other friends brought toiletries and clean undies for me. Some simply prayed. One called and made me laugh. Some came to visit, and some who couldn't bear to come sent their spouses in their stead. One prayed and gave her blood.

These are manifestations of "the image and likeness" of The Almighty in which I believe. These people choose to use their talents to help me. I believe it negates their sacrifice to thank "God" without acknowledging the human hands which feed my soul while ministering to my body.

Miraculous to Me

There are many things in life that are nothing short of miraculous;
To believe in miracles does one have to believe in a personal god?
Can't we believe in Divine Energy without putting on a face or name?

Whether we call that Energy Great Spirit, Yahweh, Allah, or God,
Whether we see The Spirit in sunshine, trees, man, woman, or child
All Divine Energy with any name or face, in essence, is still the same.

We rejoice in a new baby as it wakes to the wide world;
We thrill to the words of the poets and prophets sharing visions;
We are exalted by the music from souls who hear heavenly melodies.

The blooming in spring, dying in fall, and the long sleep of winter;
The food planting, the growing, the cooking, and the eating;
We celebrate Life's Holy Spirit in each small part of these.

Don't tell me that it's not God in the brilliant red of a maple leaf;
Don't say that my precious innocent newborn is born in sin;
I feel The Spirit in every breath and every cycle of life and death.

The awe of simply waking in the morning brings me to my knees,
With the absolute wonder of the Miraculous Energy around me.
I am often so overwhelmed, I silently pray to give my soul a rest.