The Word of God

The Word of God

Capturing the word of God is like trying to capture rain… its very abundance makes it all the more precious.  It nourishes all of life. 

How lightly humorous it is to realize that each of humanity’s spiritual teachings started out through the expression of one person’s life.  There were no people wandering around capturing each thought and word of the teacher.  No dictation. It was only decades later that people sought to capture the experience, the history, and the teachings of great teachers.  The writings were captured by many and each was meant to stand on its own.  As institutions were created to help spread the teachings, the writings were brought together and bound as one book.  Too think that until the invention of the printing press the ownership of the bible was a rarity… yet Christianity flourished.

Truly the word of God, the understanding of God, the experience of God is written into the heart and being of each of earth’s creatures. Just as plants were not meant to be dependent of the irrigation systems of mankind, rather on the rainfall of each geographic region… so is the love and understanding of God spread in the same way.  God’s love rains on our life.  It is up to each of us to close our umbrellas of disbelief and open ourselves to God’s healing and nourishing love. 

Just as animals are not dependent on each other to be fed… so we must realize that we may also receive our spiritual nourishment from God.  The saying that “God rains on the just and unjust alike” is so very revealing. 

So does this mean that ministers and priests are of no real use?  No. They’re primary purpose, like doctors is help us in our healing when we are spiritually broken or hurting.  Like good physicians, they can remind us of the way to live more healthily and in harmony with nature.  We too often forget to listen to the inner voice.  We give up our discernment choosing instead the illusion of duality. Fear of loss and fear of lack cause us to draw away from one another.

Should our appreciation of the holy books lessen?  No. See them as a history of humanity’s spiritual journey… as an encyclopedia of wisdom and guidance in how to live in harmony.  Just as there is eastern medicine and western medicine, preventative medicine and curative medicine, so is there much to be learned from each set of spiritual teachings. Too often teachers teach divisiveness, claiming their understanding it the right understanding. Rather than desiring to help direct the spiritual journey of their society, they desire to control the spiritual journey. 

Are churches and temples for naught?  No. For here people can gather in one accord and to seek a relationship with God as a people.  Just as similar trees grow together in forests, birds and butterflies of the same species fly together as they migrate, whales swim together and ants and bees each work together so are we called to work together.

So as you read the word of God, be open to the word of God written on your heart.