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The Word reveals the Word,
as the Sun reveals Its light,
or the brush of the Wind
soothes with a caress.
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Of import for our sharing today is the meaning of "to follow." While it can mean, and usually does, "to come behind, after," the English derives from Old English which, as well, means "to accompany." Follow can take on two senses, of companionship, of following behind one leading. In the higher expressions of Spirit, any sense of one leading and another following, so leader and follower, is lessened and may be nonexistent, partly for one is moving toward Oneness, in which equality is the essence. Following after, then, relates to a sense of hierarchy that is not wrong, indeed essential in many contexts, yet the leader-follower is a lower, less subtle expression of Life.
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This equalizing of authority, into the authority of equality, is wonderfully spoken in words attributed to Jesus. He declares he is not to be seen in a hierarchical, power-over manner anymore by those close to him. We could extend this to the above, that is, persons who drawn close to Life experience a shift toward friendship, of mutuality of power, not power over. Yet, Jesus did not speak this friendship to his immediate followers in the beginning of their relationship. This friendship was the fruition of time together. We can assume, and based on other Gospel materials, this was not prior true of Jesus and his followers, when prior friendship would not have assisted in the growth of their particular form of relationship and the mission he was preparing them for.
Jesus models for us, as likely some have modeled for you and me in our lives, what a Quaker Friend, J. Brent Bill, observes in hisHoly Silence, "Relationship is nurtured only with 'face time,' intimacy." Power-over relationships require no development of closeness, but spiritual communion, which is intimacy, does. Closeness grows closeness. This applies to our human relations, also our relationship with the the Sacred. We are not to cling to holding someone in such esteem spiritually that we do not allow the relationship to change to friendship purely, nor is it unnatural for us to have a like shift in our connection with the Holy.
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One of the fondest memories from my childhood is of walking home in the dark one night. My mother, my two older brothers, and I had attended Sunday night worship in the little church about a half mile from home. This was before my father had returned to church, after being raised to attend regularly. My dear mother was walking ahead of her three boys. We were one behind the other following her through the pine forest, for some reason mother not taking the three-path road. We were guided by a light we could see through the trees, our front porch light.
This scene returns often to mind. This walk home resonated with me, also, when I purchased a book from my lead professor in seminary, Dr. Billy K. Smith. The book was called Never Alone, and was a study of the Psalms in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles.
This assurance of my mother being my mother, of taking care of me, shifted over the years. Our relationship grew to be more of sharing an authority, the authority of friendship. Near the end of her earthly life, debilitated by cancer, my mother was taken care of, others exercising an authority of compassion, leading her toward the Light of Home. Yet, even in her last days, I knew she was still with me, and recall with joy standing by her bed, her eyes always closed at this point, and our singing together a gospel hymn often sung in the little church. Out of the silence, and Silence, she began, to my surprise, singing word-for-word and with delight, communing in song with her Lord. She was still leading, as friend being mother, showing me how to die a good death, to be faithful to the end, knowing that, still, the Way goes on.
Continued... |
