*We Are the World, Gustav Persson, Flickr
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God has no religion.
*Mahatma Gandhi
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If a man is to live, he must be all alive, body, soul, mind, heart, spirit.
*Thomas Merton. Thoughts in Solitude.
I recall, as a much younger man and young pastor in my early twenties, thirty years ago, lying in bed beside the church building. This was rural south Mississippi, and this was one of those church groups that still said - even if unspoken - 'Our doors open only to whites.' Fear rested in the darkness with me. I had decided we would celebrate Race Relations Sunday. I did not ask the church permission. But, how could I with integrity serve the One we called 'God' ... how could I, without being one embodying and speaking what that word 'God' implies - 'Everyone'? And thirty years later, I still choose: Will I be a person of inclusive Grace, a sign of Love-belonging-to-all? I decide. Daily I decide. We each do. And in speech and silence, our world needs much this one Message: We Are the World. This being the world begins with us each, for we each are the World that we all are.
*Brian Kenneth Wilcox (Arem Nahariim-Samadhi)
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To be alive fully, I cannot seek escape from others. Anyway, the more I would seek to escape, the more the fact of the others would be magnified. Possibly, then, the question is not a matter of with or not, but what that with will mean to me.
There is a false solitude based on fear of togetherness. True Solitude, arising from Grace, reveals to me my oneness with others. True Solitude is not a transcendence from others or myself, but a transcendence among others in which I find peace and love.
Even if I lived as a hermit in physical isolation from others, I would be with them, possibly more so for being apart yet devoted to devote the apartness to reveal that togetherness. Otherwise, the isolation would be a turning in on self, not the living of Truth as Communion with everyone, all Creation.
The mind uses many tricks to create a feeling of being separate, even superior to, others. Possibly, each of us has one such favorite trick. Among, possibly, the most subtle are the ways of using spirituality to avoid fully living here and now with, not separate from. And if I separate myself from others, I separate myself from myself. My life, then, is partial, fragmented. I am un-whole, except in communion.
This 'navel-gazing' spirituality, while garbed as salvation or enlightenment or holiness, is selfish for being separate and separative. I do agree, however, that often persons might engage such spirituality later to find himself or herself prepared for living in community-with-others, in Truth.
So, my real challenge is to be fully alive, here in this Moment. And this Moment is every moment, for every moment is only a moment in one Moment. And I, with many others, move through the moments.
Theistically, we could ask, at any time, "Where is God here?" This question cannot include only my understanding; rather, the question is to take me out of my understanding, as personal understanding or the understanding of my group. Therefore, in some sense, anyone may well challenge my understanding, through my truthful opening to the question that includes all and everyone present. I may be challenged as to my beliefs about Truth by the presence of another who may not even speak to me. Therefore, being-with means I am inviting others' presence to challenge what I think about even the most sacred thoughts and images held in mind and heart.
Prayerfulness, then, is communal. The moment I close my heart to others in a stubborn refusal to be-with them, I have ceased being Prayerful. Being Prayerful, not merely offering prayers, means I am offering myself to others and our common Oneness. And I include all in prayer, not simply in words - which is easy -, but in a communion of spirit-with-spirit before prayers. Only in this way can I love everyone, for the Love is not my Love, but our Love, and this Love arises from the Being of our being, the Breath of our breath.
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*Hugs, Ray Morris, 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!
