Jesus, Mary and Marion
For someone like me who tends to "live in her head," the spiritual life can present a challenge: while experiencing the transcendent, and answering the call to "let go" of the illusions of this life so that I can "realize my oneness" with God, I reach this blessed "equilibrium" that is neither hot nor cold, that does not judge, and leads to a sanguine, compassionate approach to every day living. Cool.
Except that, my limited human reasoning will often end up thinking, Well, if the goal is to transcend, what do I need this body for, and why am I here? What's the use of it all? What am I supposed to be experiencing in this human form? and, how does it fit with the eternal, the will of the one who sent me?
For me, the answer comes in the forms of Jesus, Mary and Marion.
Let's start with Jesus, the "first-born of many brothers." Here's a guy who understood his oneness with God. Who eventually may have understood that we are all destined for the same "sonship" and that we needed to have a way to feel forgiven and "get over ourselves" and thereby be free to accept that we are part of God's glorious body.
So, he taught, and he healed, he forgave and forgave and forgave till he sacrificed his own body. When I meditate on Jesus, and with Jesus, or worship with a community, singing songs of praise, I feel caught up with him, as one with his holy presence. I feel him as brother, redeemer, friend, Holy One, and that he welcomes me as the same. I see in him all I am and all I could be.
And yet. Look how he came - as a baby, just like I did. What an amazing teaching moment, that the Christ, the Lord, lay in his mother's arms, swaddled against the cold, helpless and tender. His mother and father cut the cord. They wiped off blood and water and cleaned him. They counted fingers and toes and marveled at his hair. This is humanity - warm and fragile, full of life and need. I came in this same way. I am where I am supposed to be. I may not entirely understand my life and all the games I must play, but I understand a human baby and I understand that this frail vessel with all its potential is good enough.
This "frail vessel" is what we've been given. When I held my Mary, battered in a freak accident, yet alive, so alive in my arms; or when I pressed my cheek against the warm softness of my mother's cheek, and breathed in the scent of her in a good-bye embrace - I experienced the power of humanity, our frailty, our suffering, our blessed holiness, flesh to flesh. And I understood somewhere deep inside that it is good enough; it is holy as what it is; it doesn't need to be transcended. It needs to be breathed and cherished.
Thank you Jesus, Mary and Marion, messengers of God.
Copyright (c) 2007
Except that, my limited human reasoning will often end up thinking, Well, if the goal is to transcend, what do I need this body for, and why am I here? What's the use of it all? What am I supposed to be experiencing in this human form? and, how does it fit with the eternal, the will of the one who sent me?
For me, the answer comes in the forms of Jesus, Mary and Marion.
Let's start with Jesus, the "first-born of many brothers." Here's a guy who understood his oneness with God. Who eventually may have understood that we are all destined for the same "sonship" and that we needed to have a way to feel forgiven and "get over ourselves" and thereby be free to accept that we are part of God's glorious body.
So, he taught, and he healed, he forgave and forgave and forgave till he sacrificed his own body. When I meditate on Jesus, and with Jesus, or worship with a community, singing songs of praise, I feel caught up with him, as one with his holy presence. I feel him as brother, redeemer, friend, Holy One, and that he welcomes me as the same. I see in him all I am and all I could be.
And yet. Look how he came - as a baby, just like I did. What an amazing teaching moment, that the Christ, the Lord, lay in his mother's arms, swaddled against the cold, helpless and tender. His mother and father cut the cord. They wiped off blood and water and cleaned him. They counted fingers and toes and marveled at his hair. This is humanity - warm and fragile, full of life and need. I came in this same way. I am where I am supposed to be. I may not entirely understand my life and all the games I must play, but I understand a human baby and I understand that this frail vessel with all its potential is good enough.
This "frail vessel" is what we've been given. When I held my Mary, battered in a freak accident, yet alive, so alive in my arms; or when I pressed my cheek against the warm softness of my mother's cheek, and breathed in the scent of her in a good-bye embrace - I experienced the power of humanity, our frailty, our suffering, our blessed holiness, flesh to flesh. And I understood somewhere deep inside that it is good enough; it is holy as what it is; it doesn't need to be transcended. It needs to be breathed and cherished.
Thank you Jesus, Mary and Marion, messengers of God.
Copyright (c) 2007
Thank you. That is a beautiful entry. I have been feeling that way the last couple days. Happy to just be here, Thankful of all the gifts in my life and Present in all the love that keeps me "hemmed in on all sides."
Your entry reminds me of the email I read today whose main message was that Happiness is a voyage, not a destination. What better time is it to be happy than right now.
Dr. Yofikki, The Lithuanian Peasant Wonderfulist IS my greatest teacher, redeemer and friend.
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