![]()
DENNIS: The true self will never take you away from God any more than
the river can take you away from its water. If we become an auto
mechanic and live our life in and with the presence of God and as an
expression of God then that is a far deeper communion than some
theologians may experience.
MIKE: True. But would it be fair to say 99% of auto mechanics don't
think of their work as a gift from God and pray during the day? They
are focused on getting parts, and learning about the computerized
engines, and installing parts properly, etc. All of those are
important considerations for the customer, but they do take us away
from God. I've never experienced a "spiritual" auto mechanic,
although in theory they do exist.
DENNIS: There is a turning away from religion that can take us
further from God and then there is a turning away from reliance on
religion that brings us closer.
MIKE: That was my point, exactly. On this discussion board (for the
six months I have participated), the discussion has always focused on
increasing the spiritual life -- not choosing a new occupation that
allows less time to spend on spiritual matters.
DENNIS: In regard to the true self, as analogy, we don't really
understand what electricity is despite the volumes of scientific
research. Some understand electricity through books and school. Some
have heard about some aspects of it from others. --and some have
inadvertently pissed on an electric fence. One of those is a life
altering way of learning about electricity and the belief is
irreversable, even though that person may or may not continue to study
about electricity. Different ways of knowing.
MIKE: But electricity is a tangible good. Electricity is bought and
sold. Electricity exists whether one believes it or understands it.
However, many people have never heard of the "true self." Those who
do are either admirers of Thomas Merton and embrace the concept, or
they reject the notion as having any substantive content. Souls
exist, whether we choose to believe they do or not. Is the "true
self" another word for our souls: the part of us that remains after
earthly death and is born to eternal life? Our souls can guide us on
earth in our choices, just as the true self can guide us.
DENNIS: There is the story of the Unitarian who dies and approaches
Heaven. He sees a sign pointing to the left which says "this way to
Heaven." He also sees a sign pointing to the right which says "this
way to go to learn how to think about Heaven." Off he goes.
MIKE: I love the Unitarians for being so accepting of people from
other walks of life -- many of whom suffered discrimination in their
old churches. But at the same time, I enjoyed your bit of humor.
|
THIS SITE:
(1) DISCUSSION BOARD HOME
(2) HENRI NOUWEN SOCIETY MEDITATIONS
(3) POST A COMMENT by e-mail
|
