Experiences > Words

A couple times a year, my wife and I load up the family and travel south.  "South", includes one of two places; Norris Lake, TN or Florida.  Even though we've been countless times, we still wait for the signposts to tell us "how many more miles" we have until we reach our destination.  Our youngest child will say every few minutes, "how much longer." 

"How much longer."  That seems to be motto for much of spirituality.  We sit next to the signposts, but miss the journey.  We miss all the potential experiences that lead to the destination, and sometimes we miss the destination all together because we hang on to "how much longer" the experience will last.  Like a wise man once said, "Words are like signposts...they just point to what they are describing, but aren't the object of our desire." 

Words are important!!  I don't want to belittle their importance.  They give us a sense of direction and purpose for our seeking, but yet, words are not the end goal.  Words are merely a starting point.  If you ask me for directions, I will give you words, "Go this way," or "Go that way."  The words will never get you to the point unless you "go."  The same is true with words that are in the Bible or whatever book you choose to be your "spiritual guide."  The words are not made to be deified or something to be worshipped.  I've seen people kissing their Bible like it is some magic book of spells or a genie in a bottle. If they carry it with them, it will bring them some great fortune.  I used to carry my Bible around with me everywhere I went thinking that it would bring me some sort of good luck.  Now, I didn't say "luck" because good Christians don't believe in luck (at least they won't admit it publicly).  The Bible doesn't have any special power in and of itself.

Even the book of John describes this "word."  It was in the beginning, it created everything, it was with God, and the word was God.  Yet, when describing "the Word" it is described not with "it" but a personal pronoun, "he."  It goes on even farther and describes "the Word" as having flesh and living among us.  "Word" or the Greek "logos", is used as an abstraction or figuratively.  The Word is an experience--it is a living person.  The words of the text lead you to "The Word," a person/experience.  It isn't that you get hung up on the semantics of signposts, but that you get to experience the destination in which the signpost points.  The destination is formless and filled with  experiences that are formless as well.  They are the abstract emotions that are felt and the energy experienced.  It is the experiences that awaken the inner life force that bring forth joy, peace, excitement, and a kingdom within that Jesus so frequently speaks about.

The words are forms, concrete and unmoved. That is why the Bible speaks of "his words" not changing (heaven and earth will pass away but my words will never pass away--Matthew 24:35).  His concrete words are like signs that will sit there in a certain spot and point.  In this chapter he was giving the people directions, or a road map if you will.  Until the people began to move and walk towards the destination He speaks of, they will never experience the energy and life behind the words. 

There is no life in the WORDS, but in the experiences, the destination, and especially the journey.  Don't miss the journey you are on because you are paralyzed by the signpost.  My soul cries out: I WANT TO EXPERIENCE "LIFE"...not just read about it or sit by a signpost. 

An Unexpected Gift

As somebody who comes from a Christian tradition in America, Christmas is about expectations.  An expectation is a strong belief that something will happen or be the base in the future.  There are expectations of giving gifts, receiving gifts, and the celebration of the birth of Christ.  There are the expectations of office parties, family get togethers, and for some--Christmas church services.  It is a time for family and friends. 

This morning I had an UNexpected reality.  Surprises that go outside what is expected can bring a plethora of emotions, but surprises are part of the "expectations" of Christmas.  I opened my Bible and read this out of Colossians chapter one:

⁵ The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. ¹⁷ He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. ¹⁹ For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

I've read this countless times, but this Christmas morning I couldn't help but notice the word "all."  For those of you that know me I'm really hung up on semantics, especially when it comes to a book that was written in three different languages,  2000+ years ago.  I love breaking down words in their original context and trying to understand what the author was trying to communicate.  In the midst of this deconstruction, there was one word I couldn't deconstruct.  It was the word "ALL."  ALL: everything, the whole, the greatest possible quality, each and every one.  It covers EVERYTHING and EVERYBODY.  

I don't know about you, but there are a lot of things I don't agree with, organizations I don't like, and things I just don't enjoy--about myself and others.  In spite of what I agree with, like, or believe in, ALL encompasses all of that (I know that is kind of a weird sentence but stay with me).  Now, when we start plugging different words/substitutions for Christmas (happy holidays, merry xmas, etc), some people get offended because religiously, they think it is leaving "Christ" out of Christmas.  Yet, according to the verses above, Christ created it all anyway, even if His name isn't in it...if you believe ALL is all, and not just some.  

You could go as far as saying that God, through Christ, is even reconciling all religions and religious holidays unto himself because ultimately it was all created by him in the first place and then went astray somewhere.  Therefore, Merry Christmas, X-mas, Happy Holidays, Eid, Yule, kwanza, umoja, kujichagulia, ujima, nia, Imani, and any other quasi religious Christmas. Ultimately, the announcement of this reconciliation by the angels was not, "we are starting an exclusive religion that has the right holidays for you to celebrate" but, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people." (Luke 2:10) 

Are we afraid of "good news" that will cause great joy for ALL (there is that word again) people in spite of religious affiliation or how they say "Christmas."  Is "Christ" bigger than holidays and what we expect.  If we could get over personal expectations that create our own personal reality, we will enter into a reality that is much bigger and full of joy.  This Christmas I'm glad my expectations were surprisingly interrupted by a bigger reality than the one I've created.  So, whatever you are celebrating today or tomorrow, I stand with you as a fellow member of the human race being reconciled to God.  What great news!  I'm not here to fight or be "right," I just want to experience this "great joy" with ALL people.  I guess the only thing I can expect from here are new experiences that will create a greater consciousness of what already is.  Have a great Christmas!!

What Are You Expecting?

Yep.  Here's my story: "I wasn't expecting this..."

עבור לעצמך ואתה תמצא את השלום. 
Go to yourself (lech lecha) and find peace.