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The ... inborn essence is not of this world, but [is] in heaven. Of it Saint Paul says: Our walk is in heaven (Philippians 3.20). The childlike essence walks in heaven, and heaven is in man.
*Jacob Boehme, The Way to Christ, The Classics of Western Spirituality
"Adonai, you have shown favor to your land;..." sings the Psalmist (Psalm 85.1, CJB). "Land" is physically that called Promised Land--this land has locale, occupying space, and the land has history, occupying time.
Spiritually, for contemplative Church, "land" is another Land. This spiritual, or pneumatic, Land does not occupy space, for it is heavenly and inward; this Land does not contain memory, for it has no history, being timeless. This Land is not national or sectarian or political or institutional, for it is Nondual. That is, this Land knows none of the divisions of the land, and, thus, it is offensive to those who pridefully, fearfully enthrone and defend a faction as the chosen: even projecting onto God as being the prejudicial Chooser (Whom God is not!). This Land transcends chosen and unchosen, for this Land is Heaven, and this Heaven is God, and this Land is the Mystical Body of Christ, Love.
The pneumatic, or spiritual, person lives in the Land. She lives in the land, but lives in the land as within the Land: for the Land contains all in unprejudiced Favor, and the Heart of the Land pours Itself forth infinitely in compassion for all creatures of the land.
The spiritual person places her mind on the Land, she cultivates her affection for the Land, and she longs for a fuller inward vision of the fullness of the Land, which is infinite Progress. Walking among persons attached to the land, she silently adores and witnesses to the Land of Favor, unveiled only to those who are ready to surrender all claims to the Spirit of the Land. She can exult, "Lord, you have shown favor to the Land!" Why? For she lives there in the bliss of loving surrender. Indeed, the "inborn essence" is already living in Heaven, or, better, is living Heaven.
*OneLife writings are offered by Brian K. Wilcox, a United Methodist pastor serving in the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. He writes in the spirit of John Wesley's focus on the priority of inner experience of the Triune God; scriptural holiness; ongoing sanctification; the goal of Christian perfection (or, wholeness). Brian seeks to integrate the best of the contemplative teachings of Christianity East and West, from the patristic Church to the present. Brian lives a vowed contemplative life with his two dogs, Bandit Ty and St. Francis, in North Florida. OneLife writings are for anyone seeking to live and share love, joy, and peace in the world and in devotion to God as she or he best understands God.
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