A human being is a spatially and temporally limited piece of
the whole, what we call the “Universe.” He experiences himself and his feelings
as separate from the rest, an optical illusion of his consciousness. The quest
for liberation from this bondage is the only object of true religion. Not
nurturing the illusion but only overcoming it gives us the attainable measure
of inner peace.
Albert
Einstein (a translation from the original German
Note: This
statement has been altered many times and misquoted.
___________________________
it seems we have a choice
“how then shall I now live?”
how shall I live in this world
with its love of domination?
how shall I live in a society
that does not value all people the same?
how shall I live in an economy in which profit
is more important than people?
how shall I live?
how shall I live if I take seriously
that I carry the Sacred within me?
how shall I live if I take seriously that each person I
meet
no matter their color
or social status
or education level
or title
or affluence
also carries the Sacred within them, and is a Sacred
Child
how shall I live?
while sitting in that stark and unhospitable land of
temptation
Jesus was given a choice
the choice to follow the way of power and domination
or the choice to follow the long, complex, messy path to
the cross
the Jesus path is messy, and complex, and difficult
and there are many ways to think about
the choices
that takes us down the path
or off the path
do we choose dominance or servanthood
generosity of accumulation
inclusion or exclusion
merit or grace
but in the end there is only one choice
will I remain an encapsulated ego
a person wrapped up in myself
(can you spell toxic individualism)
or will I be a person who sees him or herself
as a part of a community
not a small community
not a tribe
but a really big community
the community of human kind
and will I make choices that benefit the community
not just me
the community as well as me
Thank you Albert
for understanding better than most of us Christians
what Christianity is all about
what it means to have a heart set free
our faith should indeed liberate us
to be people for others
people notice others, connect with others
and insist
that as we walk down life’s twisted and dangerous pathway
we do it, together
and we get all get home
together
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