*Love, Raffaelle Camardella, Flickr
Since Love grows within you, so beauty grows. For love is the beauty of the soul.
*St. Augustine
Love reaches out to communicate, to share, to widen the realm of its own communion.
*John Main
* * *
With a family of another faith than my own, a nontheistic, spiritual tradition, I felt Sacredness as a pervasive Presence. This was as real, or possibly more real, for the word "God" not being projected into the setting. This was a "'God'-less" meeting. And I, paradoxically, was relieved to be free of the need to introduce "God" into the situation.
God was not present on the surface, was not once referred to, by me, or anyone. I recall feeling relief that this was enough. Somehow, Grace, in a non-religious sense (for Grace is not religious) was present, and Presence was like a stable sub-text to the happenings.
I felt this paradox taking place inside me, around us. Within me, I, who as a Christian representing a "God Story," feeling relief that I could be with persons without that being between them and me. All around, that this Presence seemed more real in this context, for not being put onto the surface of what was happening. To project "God" would have been an act untrue, lacking integrity, for out of sync with this sacred meeting together, this graceful sharing.
* * *
Yet, I found this true to the Christian tradition. In the contemplative tradition, the great spiritual Masters early taught that we cannot know God for who or what God is, only for who or what God is not. Why? For God is not a thing, even a person, in the mind. Paradoxically, we cannot know God but by not-knowing. Otherwise, as often is the case, we may throw around the word "God" as though we are talking God and not about God. And we may, and often do, throw around the word "God" like throwing around the word "Buddy" or "Barbara." Why would we find it not possible that in the absence of talk about God, we may sense the Reality more present?
I use "God" to relate to persons. I do not need to introduce the word to anyone, anywhere. Yet, I feel, as with the above family, a Loving Presence present. I sense the Presence through the presence of others, even those whom I may not understand well at all. I sense that Presence as much through those who are not of my faith, as those who are. Calling that Presence anything or anyone does not make It anymore real than if no reference is made to It. And if I refer to "God" again and again, am I honoring God by doing so, or revealing a subtle idolatry of mind, even a dependence that is based on a fear of experiencing God apart from ideas of God?
* * *
Love Alone was present to Love and being Loved, in the midst of the family. Not even the word Love was needed to be spoken to add anything to Love giving Itself to Itself in the mystery of togetherness, which is the dance of Grace. This is holy communion prior to any ritual of holy communion. Any rite of communion, as any mention of "God," arises from a prior Presence independent of both.
The fulfillment of the word "God" is the absence of the word "God." Not that we should not use the word "God," or other references to Being, but that in That "God" refers to, we find the fulfillment sufficient unto Itself. And we enter that sufficiency and are one-ed with It. Therefore, Grace is as equally present in the denial of "God" as the affirmation of "God," and Love is before both.
* * *
The next morning I was plunged back into the "God talk" of my faith. I found myself irritated, feeling a movement away from a purity. In this purity, this spirit, I had sensed strongly the communion that needs no mention of religion or "God," to be the fulfillment of Itself. This fulfillment was within authentic human sharing of heart with heart, much deeper and before and beyond words and all distinctions that words represent and, consequently, misrepresent.
* * *
*Spirit Carries On, Giulia Geraci, 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!
