Start by looking in the mirror—over and over. Smile at yourself. Salute yourself. You’ll see yourself as beloved, in truth.
As it’s written in the New Testament, Ephesians 4:14-15: “Speaking the truth in love, grow up in every way into Christ.” The author of these words has never been fully established, just as Christ is not tied down to the earthly Jesus, nor to Job’s healing vision—frighteningly, openly, inclusively divine, all holy.
Do you remember that little phrase “Bloom where you’re planted”? I always thought it was hopelessly corny and immature. Now I wonder.
Of course that phrase must be in the Holy Bible, somewhere— a selection of writings all of them equally holy. Paul, thanks to his verbosity and long-winded speeches could even see himself as speaking truth in love, because he was a plodder determined to seek and find Divinity in everything and everyone, including himself.
Each person makes his/her/their path, takes that path, veers from that path, returns to that path, and so on. I have tried many times in my own life to discern and tie down the HOLY. I have sought advice from many sources—all of them helpful yet none of them permanently perfect.
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The HOLY is of God, and therefore compels me to seek it in all things, great and small.
-Gazing out the window a friend sees the trees moving and imagines that God is waving at him.
-A young child kneels at the altar rail, discovers he can’t see, looks around seeking guidance, places one small hand on the railing, pulls himself up to stand on the kneeling cushion, sticks his other small hand out to receive a communion wafer. There is a moment of hesitation, then the priest winks and places a wafer that looks nothing like bread into his small hand. The child fists the bread, pops it into his mouth, then turns and runs back down the aisle.
-The 2024 Democratic Convention, gathered and viewed from above—every color, gender, ethnicity, political persuasion, religion, class, on and on.
-Here is a photo of a very large Weeping Beech tree that stands at the entrance of Mercy Center in Madison, Connecticut. It's lush in the summer, however, whatever the season or the reason, this tree stands to welcome all of those who seek the Holy in silence or through a spiritual direction program. The tree tells me I am in a holy place, that all who come here seek and find holiness, and also that all seasons and seekers are holy in the expansive language of our One Holy Creator/Creating God.
Below stands this tree in winter dress. Holy, eh?
Finally a tiny baby, holy sloth, held up by a human hand.
3 comments:
I totally agree with your understanding of holy as connected with the sacredness of the all.
Every breath we take and every bit of consciousness that we share with ourselves, and with others enables the holy to be fully present and this space which we inhabit.
At this time, it is hard to know what the meaning of universe is or cosmology is . The only thing we can know is our deep experience, the unity of all that Exists.
This or should I say these small, connections to the Holly what keeps my faith strong, fed and nourished. Mountain top experiences may or may not happen but the small things in our lives are much more often and truly feed and nourish us. The Holy me be a mystery to us but the Holy is not complicated to know. Laur
Grateful for these wise comments.
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