The Big Story

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Richard Rohr talks about the Cosmic Egg, four domes of being.

It is kind of an ethical and spiritual matryoshka doll

With smaller, more limited layers of meaning nested within

Larger, more profound layers

 

The smallest “dome” is “My Story”

Each of us has our own story

This is me

 

Me, as differentiated from all other beings

And their story

 

Not all cultures allow people to have

“My story” the way we have

This story in America (and the West in general)

 

This is the individual and individualism

It can morph into

“It is all about me”

 

A place where “My Story” is all that counts

Choices about right and wrong

Good and evil are based on one primary criterion,

How does it affect me?

 

I want lower gas prices!

Therefore, I will support a person who promises those lower prices

Even if they are a person who lies, is corrupt, greedy, predatory, and cruel

If I don’t think that person’s negative qualities will impact me, personally,

All is good!

 

Our story is the layer at which we say,

“This is us”

USA, USA, USA

 

This is groupthink

This is group loyalty, group identity

My country right or wrong

My version of Christianity versus yours

My race, my ideology, against yours

 

There is nothing wrong with either

Of these layers of meaning

It is good to have a sense of self

And a love of country

 

IF

Those layers of meaning are connected to something

Greater

Something, or someone infinite

 

Because there are “Other Stories” out there

Other people who also have a story

That is precious

 

And other groups that have

Faith systems, countries, ideologies

Different from ours

 

If we cannot accept that there are other stories

And insist that only our story is the “right” story or the “good” story

If we see others as inferior, wrong, threatening

 

We end up with ICE

And Pete Hegseth, and Donald Trump

 

What could be good about us as individuals,

And as a culture

Becomes twisted and tainted

And no longer healthy

 

What we need to realize is that we

As individuals

We as a collection of individuals

We as a gathering of different “tribes”

All participate in

 

THE STORY

The story (according to Rohr)

Consists of “the patterns that are always true” (p. 21, Things Hidden)

 

Forgiveness heals

Hate destroys

God loves all

Those who have are called to take care of those who have not

(Welcome the stranger, feed the hungry)

 

Spiritually, we must take all four “domes” seriously

We need a sense of self

We need community

We need an awareness of and respect for others

And we need to understand how we participate in the holy

 

MAGA’s big error is that it doesn’t move beyond “our story”

 

Many religions try to move to “The Story”

But neglect the importance of the individual

And the power of culture

 

And toxic individualism creates

So many ills

 

I think Jesus was on to something when he said

Love God (the story)

Love your Neighbor (our story and other stories)

And love yourself (My story)

 

We are part of the big story

Living in a diverse world with a plethora

Of beautiful stories

Joined together in community

And aware

That we, as individuals

Matter

 

It doesn’t get better than that