*Diversity, Sylvi, Flickr
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1My brothers and sisters, do you with your acts of favoritism really believe in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ? 2 For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, 3 and if you take notice of the one wearing the fine clothes and say, "Have a seat here, please," while to the one who is poor you say, "Stand there," or, "Sit at my feet," 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who oppress you? Is it not they who drag you into court? 7 Is it not they who blaspheme the excellent name that was invoked over you?
8 You do well if you really fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 9 But if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
*James 2.1-9 (NRSV)
But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, ... for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."
*I Samuel 16.7 (NRSV)
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A Zen abbot went dressed in rags to the door of a rich man. The wealthy man turned him away with an empty bowl. Later, he returned in his formal robe and was invited in. He was served a sumptuous meal. Removing his robe and folding it, the abbot put it down in front of the feast. He left, saying, "This meal is not for me; it is for the robe."
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*World Peace, Rick Kligman, Flickr
In the 1960s I lived, as a child, amidst racial segregation. I recall seeing the picture of Martin Luther King Jr. in the newspaper. I recall the school for the black citizens, and another for the white citizens. I recall blacks went to their churches, whites to theirs. I recall persons talk about loving others as oneself, quoting the Bible and Jesus, but speaking of blacks as being cursed by God. I recall that my race might speak of God inviting blacks to "Him," but they were definitely not going to invite blacks to themselves or to the Place of Prayer, where they claimed, I recall, that they prayed to and praised that God.
I recall another side of the story. I recall a kind white youth named Greg. He lived in a little farm community, in an old white frame house. His little brother walked into the dining room one day, during those days of segregation. And amazingly, wonderfully, there was Greg's friend from school, sitting and eating. His friend, a black youth, sitting at the table - the table, being a sign of welcome, hospitality, and equality. Greg's mother spoke to the little brother about how proud she was of his older brother. He was proud of his big brother, too. Greg was my oldest brother. Lynett our mother. This was our home, in South Georgia. I recall with tenderhearted memory of the icon of Divine Love, of Presence, of a natural bent within my brother of knowing that we are all equal, not as dictated by norms of society, or law, or simply for some holy book says so, but for we are. We are means we are.
Prayer takes me to the Center. In that Center, from which I live, I see race, but race as an expression of the Beauty that we are. This Center transforms our "eyes," for Grace is the Center, and Grace is Love. From the silent working and influence of that Center, I "see" what is true of all persons - our being is timelessly arising from the Center and returning to the Center, call That Center what you will. Love is Centering us back into One, through time and place into the timeless and boundless Grace.
I would not say here that I do not have prejudice, in some fashion, in some degree. I do say that the transformation of society, with its prejudices, begins as each of us are re-formed by the Center into the Pure Love we truly are - pure for not being overlaid with any appearance. This Pure Presence, enfolding in Itself each one of us and across places and times, all seen and unseen, we know to be our Home.
The simple confession "we are" is more vital to our welfare and survival as a world community than all the religious confessions and creeds ever written. We can live together in Love without the confessions and creeds, but we cannot live together in Love apart from the inward confession and conviction "we are."
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*Meditation, Grzegorz Formicki, Flickr
* * * CLOSING BLESSING * * *
Grace and Peace to All
The Sacred in Me bows to the Sacred in You
*You are welcome to contact Brian at briankwilcox@yahoo.com .
The presentations at this site cover a long time period. Each one represents part of an on-going Pilgrimage, and the writer's ideas, practices, and experience have changed over time. This change is the quality of any living Journey. Please read with this in mind, allowing the inner Teacher to speak to you as you need at this particular time in your own living Journey. Thanks!
