Finding God

“The reason modern people can’t see God is that they won’t look low enough.”
~ Carl Jung

Our tendency is to conceptualize God as existing in some other place or dimension, not within the here and now. Our languages have exaggerated this perspective with opposing words, such as the mundane versus the sacred, earth versus heaven, science versus God, secular versus spiritual, probability versus faith, good or bad luck versus fate/karma, etc. Religion itself has given us the impression – intentionally or otherwise – of God being above or outside of us, rather than being an integral part of everything and everyone in the here and now.

Imagine a world where we recognize God within the food we eat, the dream we had last night, the stranger’s smile, the clap of thunder, the deer crossing the street, the silly stuff we share with a loved one, the blessing of waking up for another day of life, and a million other things we too often take for granted. Imagine seeing God in all of that!

Field trip

The lot of us roamed the state park, back and forth, like zombies searching aimlessly. We’d keep going until Liz – the activities coordinator – blew the whistle, and then we’d scramble back to the bus.

Lenny and Chip, the OCD sufferers, zigzagged the grounds in convoluted patterns, understood by them alone. Reminded me of the football patterns I ran with my mates behind Foley field, about 40 years earlier. The difference being that we never crossed into each other’s lanes in those days. But, Lenny and Chip crashed into each other at one point, almost coming to fists over it, before arriving at a compromise with my assistance.

“Avoidance is the key,” Lenny told me after calming down.

“Yep, stay in your own lanes, and all will be good,” I said. And I gave him a thumbs up. He smiled, gave me a pat on the back and continued his zigzag patterns. I felt validated from the pat.

Continue reading “Field trip” →

Energy

Energy is inherently neutral, not being anything in particular, other than a universal force that can create, change, destroy, process, maintain, love, hurt, defend, dream, or anything else that is a verb. The same bit of energy can be used for either the sacred or the mundane. How and where it is expended, and what it transforms, are what determine its current personality and nature. New agers call it kundalini, Freudians call it libido, writers call it creativity, doctors call it life, electricians call it electricity, and so on.

Seeking the bad

Our brain is wired to notice the bad or potentially bad, as this is critical to our survival, both individually and collectively. The more shades of negativity or uncertainty we perceive, the more ability we have to protect ourselves and resolve situations before they evolve into disasters.

Compared to the bad, perceiving the good has less survival value, and so we make fewer distinctions regarding the good, assigning fewer words to it.

Humanity is obsessed with the bad.

A poor fit

Some roles fit us perfectly, like a tailor-made glove, but others are like a poor fitting pair of jeans, either too tight or loose. We never get comfortable wearing them, and embarrass ourselves trying.

Know your place in this world. Wear what fits, and leave the masquerade behind you.