when you tell someone "you're my friend" you are saying to them in that same breath "you are very special to me", and that you freely choose to enter into relationship with him/her. this is why friendship is categorically different from most other relationships, and why it is so special, because it is a relationship of free will. we do not choose our parents or siblings, or our teachers or classmates or co-workers or neighbors. all those relationships are chosen by forces outside ourselves (though of course how we relate to them is our choice). but friendship is different, and is why it has been heralded by poets and wise people throughout the ages.
i do not use the term "friend" lightly. it is not a status i give to everyone i am acquainted with, but only to those whom my heart is drawn too in some special and particular way. there are different types of friends, people who are special to us and revolve around our lives but within different spheres of proximity. the outer sphere (generally where most of those we call "friend" circulate) are dear to us and we may share a lot or a little time with them, have fun with them, and share common interests. the middle sphere are our good friends, people with whom we are particularly close, share feelings and thoughts, and laugh and cry together. the immediate sphere belongs to our best friends, and generally this is a very small cluster of people, often only one or two may really circulate within this sphere. they are the ones to whom we share of our deepest self, we hold the strongest bonds of trust,we live in mutual knowledge that no matter what we are there for one another in sickness and in health, in poverty or wealth. this is the reason that spousal relationships are often described as "being in love with your best friend". and within this small sphere of best friends we find our true friend/s.
what do i mean by true friend? he or she or they are the one/s whose best friend status has been tested and deepened with time. the one who stays with us though the years, and if for some reason a lapse of communication happens, even perhaps for years, when we are reunited the joy is overwhelming and the conversation picks up as if it were only yesterday when we spoke last. a true friend is the one who often knows us better then we know ourselves, who can call us on our faults and we value their critique (even if we don't agree with it). a true friend knows us so well that he/she knows what we need before we speak it. i would like to share a story from my own life which demonstrates what i am trying to express.
when my mother died in 2005 i received phone calls from many dear and good friends. without exception each of them sincerely said to me "if there is anything you need, anything, do not hesitate to ask". though i knew in my heart they were all speaking truthfully and would most likely done what i asked of them, i could not ask them. you see what i needed at that time, more then anything, was for someone to come and spend the weekend with me, to stay by my side through all four of the visitations (afternoon and evening of the two day wake), and also be with me the day of the burial. how could i ask someone to be with me for so long a period of time, and in such a depressing situation.
of course the first person i had called when i got the news was my best friend of 20 something years, no one home when i called so i left a message on his voicemail. soon my call was returned, and before i could say anything she said to me "do you want me to come and stay with you", she knew what i needed and offered it without a request. i immediately replied "yes". she lives in the city, a good train ride from my apartment in bohemia, and came out to be with me the next day. now i should mention that my best friend never visited my place mostly because she is not fond of dogs, and i had two large and over-friendly dogs at the time. but that did not stop her from coming and sleeping on a sofa for three nights. and through all the sittings at the funeral parlor and day of the burial at the cemetery and the dinner, she was with me. it was that weekend that i came to understand the difference between a good friend and a true friend. i have thanked God everyday since for the blessing of a true friend.
and on this special day i say to her once more and publicly - "i love you. you truly are my best friend, and i would gladly die for you."
© 2010 halley low
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
moments to live by
what is it about growing older that we fear so much? is it the looming reality of death, which in truth is with us from the moment of conception, but which only becomes real as we progress with the years? or is it the loss of potency, or fear of it, that makes us worry about our ability to control our lives? perhaps it is mere vanity, the fear of yet another line or wrinkle appearing on our bodies "robbing" us of the beauty of youth? or could it be the accumulation of regrets for things we have done, or for things we did not do, the season for which may have past and the somber reality that they will neither be erased or achieved? obviously the answers will be different for each of us, and depends on where we stand in the process of getting older, as our vantage point influences those answers. someone who is turning 30 will likely have a different approach then someone turning 70. but the important thing is to be willing to look at the question, to face the reality of aging in context of the point we are living in that moment.
of course we could simply deny that we are getting older and all that it may entail, but most of us know that denial is a game; and a very unproductive game at that. pretending that things are not what they are generally serves only to keep us from experiencing the reality of our lives; or simply put - to live an unauthentic life. that we age is a fact of life, how we age is our choice.
often that choice creates a "crisis" for us, the proverbial "mid-life crisis". interestingly, the "mid-life crisis" is generally not a singular experience that happens at the point we become "middle aged". in truth we experience many so-called mid-life experiences of varying intensities and durations. more importantly we can experience them at any given time in our lives. it is not uncommon for someone to go through such a crisis at 35 or 30 or even at 25 years old. if we understand that the "crisis" is not age-dependent but is part of the normal process of aging for self-reflective beings such as we are, we will not be so surprised that even teenagers can and do experience a "mid-life crisis".
essentially, a "mid-life crisis" is a moment in time that we become intensely aware that we are changing, and that change is turning our world in different directions, perhaps even spinning our world so fast we are temporarily dis-oriented. it is natural at such times to become fearful, the earth is quaking under our feet and we are shaken to our core. we question where we are going, we fear the loss of the security we once knew, we wonder what will become of us, we cry "why can't things stay as they are" or "why can't things change faster" - depending on where we are standing at that moment in the "crisis". the important thing to remember is that its a good thing to ask questions, to look at oneself and to evaluate one's priorities and dreams and actions. it's even ok to be afraid, that's normal, we wouldn't be human if we didn't experience fear in the face of mystery.
however, if fear gets the upper hand, if fear causes us to become paralyzed or withdrawn or sends us into flights of escapism (such as binge drinking, promiscuity, or any number of unhealthy avenues that divert us from the life affirming self-reflective process that we label "crisis") then we need help with our crisis. honestly even if the crisis is not manifested in extreme fear, we often need help to pass through this dark valley. it's the reason many naturally turn to God in prayer for guidance and comfort. it's the reason many seek out a friend or loved one to talk with and share feelings. it's the reason some recognize that they need to talk with their religious leader or a counselor or a spiritual director to help them navigate their feelings and thoughts.
yet if fear has gotten the upper hand that need for help is magnified. sometimes the ability to reach out for help becomes more difficult because unbridled fear is shutting down the natural process of the "crisis". if you are caught in such a state - do not despair, there are bound to be moments of clarity, (perhaps reading this little essay is serving you right now as a chance to see beyond), seize that moment and reach out for help now. God really does care about you, and there are people, even strangers who care too. reach out, call a hotline, call your doctor, go speak to a pastor, pray to God for the strength to love yourself (even if you don't believe in God), just make use of this moment of clarity to move away from fear and into life. no matter how old we are or what changes we are going through life is worth living. if you have a friend or family member whom you recognize is in such a stagnant place, be strong and reach out to him or her, and maybe if necessary reach out for him or her.
remembering that growing older is the natural flow of life, and "crisis" is an on-going reflection on the process, helps us to move on in sane and healthy ways. in surrendering one moment we are caught up in the next moment; living is a continuum of paradoxes. a wise man once wrote - "it is in giving we receive, in forgiving that we are forgiven, and in dying that we are born to new life". and so it is that the joy of living is found in acceptance of growing older and in our full participation in the dynamic process of life.
© 2010 halley low
of course we could simply deny that we are getting older and all that it may entail, but most of us know that denial is a game; and a very unproductive game at that. pretending that things are not what they are generally serves only to keep us from experiencing the reality of our lives; or simply put - to live an unauthentic life. that we age is a fact of life, how we age is our choice.
often that choice creates a "crisis" for us, the proverbial "mid-life crisis". interestingly, the "mid-life crisis" is generally not a singular experience that happens at the point we become "middle aged". in truth we experience many so-called mid-life experiences of varying intensities and durations. more importantly we can experience them at any given time in our lives. it is not uncommon for someone to go through such a crisis at 35 or 30 or even at 25 years old. if we understand that the "crisis" is not age-dependent but is part of the normal process of aging for self-reflective beings such as we are, we will not be so surprised that even teenagers can and do experience a "mid-life crisis".
essentially, a "mid-life crisis" is a moment in time that we become intensely aware that we are changing, and that change is turning our world in different directions, perhaps even spinning our world so fast we are temporarily dis-oriented. it is natural at such times to become fearful, the earth is quaking under our feet and we are shaken to our core. we question where we are going, we fear the loss of the security we once knew, we wonder what will become of us, we cry "why can't things stay as they are" or "why can't things change faster" - depending on where we are standing at that moment in the "crisis". the important thing to remember is that its a good thing to ask questions, to look at oneself and to evaluate one's priorities and dreams and actions. it's even ok to be afraid, that's normal, we wouldn't be human if we didn't experience fear in the face of mystery.
however, if fear gets the upper hand, if fear causes us to become paralyzed or withdrawn or sends us into flights of escapism (such as binge drinking, promiscuity, or any number of unhealthy avenues that divert us from the life affirming self-reflective process that we label "crisis") then we need help with our crisis. honestly even if the crisis is not manifested in extreme fear, we often need help to pass through this dark valley. it's the reason many naturally turn to God in prayer for guidance and comfort. it's the reason many seek out a friend or loved one to talk with and share feelings. it's the reason some recognize that they need to talk with their religious leader or a counselor or a spiritual director to help them navigate their feelings and thoughts.
yet if fear has gotten the upper hand that need for help is magnified. sometimes the ability to reach out for help becomes more difficult because unbridled fear is shutting down the natural process of the "crisis". if you are caught in such a state - do not despair, there are bound to be moments of clarity, (perhaps reading this little essay is serving you right now as a chance to see beyond), seize that moment and reach out for help now. God really does care about you, and there are people, even strangers who care too. reach out, call a hotline, call your doctor, go speak to a pastor, pray to God for the strength to love yourself (even if you don't believe in God), just make use of this moment of clarity to move away from fear and into life. no matter how old we are or what changes we are going through life is worth living. if you have a friend or family member whom you recognize is in such a stagnant place, be strong and reach out to him or her, and maybe if necessary reach out for him or her.
remembering that growing older is the natural flow of life, and "crisis" is an on-going reflection on the process, helps us to move on in sane and healthy ways. in surrendering one moment we are caught up in the next moment; living is a continuum of paradoxes. a wise man once wrote - "it is in giving we receive, in forgiving that we are forgiven, and in dying that we are born to new life". and so it is that the joy of living is found in acceptance of growing older and in our full participation in the dynamic process of life.
© 2010 halley low
Thursday, April 22, 2010
living clay
we come from the earth and are blessed with the gift of life from the very breath of God. understanding our deep connection with the earth is important for healthy sane living. we have come to a point in time when the negative impact of human life on this planet out-weighs our positive contributions. what we do today affects the planet far into the future. for our own sake and the sake of the generations to come, both human and animal, we need to re-evaluate our priorities and activities.
where is the wisdom in exploiting natural resources to maintain a lifestyle of ease for some, while others suffer, in the here and now, because of the greed and wantonness of those exploiting for selfish reasons? where is the sanity in turning a blind eye to the present and future effects of planetary toxication? the simple fact is that what we dump on the earth or in the water today is what we eat tomorrow. a simple equation, poisoning the earth equals poisoning our bodies.
the truth is that every day is earth day, in that we need to be conscious of our actions and how they affect others. making ecologically healthy choices in our daily lives is an important step in healing the earth and caring for one another as well as ourselves. simple things like choosing to use natural household cleansers, composting, exclusively using re-cycled paper products, and pulling out weeds in our yards instead of using herbicides (which also gives us an added benefit of exercise). basically, be willing to learn more, be open to new ideas, and think before acting - all this will help us live in a saner healthier world.
© 2010 halley low
where is the wisdom in exploiting natural resources to maintain a lifestyle of ease for some, while others suffer, in the here and now, because of the greed and wantonness of those exploiting for selfish reasons? where is the sanity in turning a blind eye to the present and future effects of planetary toxication? the simple fact is that what we dump on the earth or in the water today is what we eat tomorrow. a simple equation, poisoning the earth equals poisoning our bodies.
the truth is that every day is earth day, in that we need to be conscious of our actions and how they affect others. making ecologically healthy choices in our daily lives is an important step in healing the earth and caring for one another as well as ourselves. simple things like choosing to use natural household cleansers, composting, exclusively using re-cycled paper products, and pulling out weeds in our yards instead of using herbicides (which also gives us an added benefit of exercise). basically, be willing to learn more, be open to new ideas, and think before acting - all this will help us live in a saner healthier world.
© 2010 halley low
Friday, April 16, 2010
in the midst of life
at times life seems overwhelming. the old saying - "so little time, so much to do" seems to be the story of our lives; school, work, kids, shopping, laundry, sickness, and the list goes on. if we look beyond our immediate horizon things may look even grimmer. a world full of troubles: genocide and war, starvation and epidemics, everywhere injustice and oppression. the history of humankind is the history of struggle: political, economic, social, personal. each time we think we have a handle on things, each time we overcome a personal or social barrier to truth and peace, we find ourselves faced with another "issue". our hearts become perplexed. we want answers, and we want them now, though often we are not really ready to hear the truth, and even less to act on it.
more often then not we don't even ask the questions except in terms of our own lives, too busy with our own struggles to look beyond, or if we do often we deal with it by turning a blind eye. after all we can't fix all the problems in our own lives much more the world. this of course is true, but is "tuning out" the answer? often we become "personal isolationist", our concern becomes fixed on "me and mine"; we ask with cain - "am i my brother's keeper?" or we may ask - "where is God in all this need and suffering?"
the two questions are inter-related. if we have accepted Jesus' invitation to new life in God, then the answer to the first question is - yes we are our brother's/sister's keeper. we are called to love, and love is only real when it is expressed in concern and caring, in order words when love is manifested in our actions. we have an ethical responsibility and a Divine mandate to love our neighbors as ourselves. thus "tuning out" is not an option for those of us who live in God.
so we ask "where is God to be found in all this?" if we look we will find that God is not "out there" in some distant heaven, but right here struggling and suffering with us. we are not alone nor do our cries fall on deaf ears (though at times we may feel that they do). even more important, God is not only with us but in us. this is the invitation to new life, to live conscious of our rootedness in God. in our hearts God speaks to us and silently points us in the right direction.
some times it is a consolation for us, an inner healing, a sense of peace. other times God seeks to empower us to act boldly in love. this is why i said both questions are inter-related, because God is with us in the living of our days, and moves within us calling us to action in love. think about these things in context of Jesus' teachings: "you and I are one just as the Father and I are one" (what does this say to us about the intimacy of God with/in us?); and "whatever you do to the least of these you do to me...whatever you do not do to the least of these you do not do to me" (what does this say about where we encounter God, and what direction we are to go?)
© 2010 halley low
more often then not we don't even ask the questions except in terms of our own lives, too busy with our own struggles to look beyond, or if we do often we deal with it by turning a blind eye. after all we can't fix all the problems in our own lives much more the world. this of course is true, but is "tuning out" the answer? often we become "personal isolationist", our concern becomes fixed on "me and mine"; we ask with cain - "am i my brother's keeper?" or we may ask - "where is God in all this need and suffering?"
the two questions are inter-related. if we have accepted Jesus' invitation to new life in God, then the answer to the first question is - yes we are our brother's/sister's keeper. we are called to love, and love is only real when it is expressed in concern and caring, in order words when love is manifested in our actions. we have an ethical responsibility and a Divine mandate to love our neighbors as ourselves. thus "tuning out" is not an option for those of us who live in God.
so we ask "where is God to be found in all this?" if we look we will find that God is not "out there" in some distant heaven, but right here struggling and suffering with us. we are not alone nor do our cries fall on deaf ears (though at times we may feel that they do). even more important, God is not only with us but in us. this is the invitation to new life, to live conscious of our rootedness in God. in our hearts God speaks to us and silently points us in the right direction.
some times it is a consolation for us, an inner healing, a sense of peace. other times God seeks to empower us to act boldly in love. this is why i said both questions are inter-related, because God is with us in the living of our days, and moves within us calling us to action in love. think about these things in context of Jesus' teachings: "you and I are one just as the Father and I are one" (what does this say to us about the intimacy of God with/in us?); and "whatever you do to the least of these you do to me...whatever you do not do to the least of these you do not do to me" (what does this say about where we encounter God, and what direction we are to go?)
© 2010 halley low
Sunday, April 11, 2010
a God for failures
we live in a success-driven world. we all want to accomplish wonderful, or not so wonderful, things. and we all like to believe "the myth of the self-made man or woman". then people will either say that the person is "a success" or "a failure"; so in a way we become what we accomplish; or conversely what we didn't accomplish, and the world will either laud us or condemn us. our self-worth gets linked to what we accomplish or not, so it's natural to think of ourselves as either a "winner" or a "loser".
of course the truth is that no one totally succeeds or fails on their own. there are always other factors that are involved. often its easier for us to claim success for our own, and often when we fail we look for reasons outside ourselves to explain it. after all no one wants to see themselves as a "failure". some seem to succeed more and others fail more, but it is very unhealthy to define who you are by your successes or your failures. let me tell you a true story.
one day Jesus was invited to a dinner party. the host was a man of great learning and great wealth, admired by all because he was a "winner". that evening while the swank party was underway a poor woman quietly came into the house. she knelt down at Jesus' feet crying. her tears flowed like a river and she used them to wash Jesus' feet. the host of the party was stunned that Jesus even let this "loser" near him much more to allow her to wash his feet with her tears. Jesus saw in the host's eyes the contempt he held for this woman. Jesus looked at those gathered and spoke - "my dear host, you have invited me to your elegant home and shared with me of your many successes. but this poor woman, whom you so despise, neither shares her successes or her many failures, rather she gives me of herself - from the depth of her inner well she washes my feet with love. truly i tell you it is not by your success or your failure that you will be judged, but by your love."
Jesus knows that we are not our successes or our failures; for both the "winners" and the "losers" in the eyes of the world are all broken people needing to be healed. healing comes through mercy and compassion which flows without end or measure from the heart of God. that is why no matter what we do, no matter how much we accomplish or how much we fail, no matter how much people praise us or condemn us, God is always for us. the psalmist writes - "even if your father or mother should abandon you, I the Lord will never abandon you."
this is why when Jesus was asked "what is the greatest of the commandments?" He did not answer by saying its by being successful in this or that action, but "the greatest commandment is this - to love God with your whole being. and the second is like the first, to love your neighbor as yourself. this is the whole of the law and the prophets." it is by our love, not our successes or failures, that we are truly known; and it is through Love that we find healing, renewal, and eternal life.
©2010 halley low
of course the truth is that no one totally succeeds or fails on their own. there are always other factors that are involved. often its easier for us to claim success for our own, and often when we fail we look for reasons outside ourselves to explain it. after all no one wants to see themselves as a "failure". some seem to succeed more and others fail more, but it is very unhealthy to define who you are by your successes or your failures. let me tell you a true story.
one day Jesus was invited to a dinner party. the host was a man of great learning and great wealth, admired by all because he was a "winner". that evening while the swank party was underway a poor woman quietly came into the house. she knelt down at Jesus' feet crying. her tears flowed like a river and she used them to wash Jesus' feet. the host of the party was stunned that Jesus even let this "loser" near him much more to allow her to wash his feet with her tears. Jesus saw in the host's eyes the contempt he held for this woman. Jesus looked at those gathered and spoke - "my dear host, you have invited me to your elegant home and shared with me of your many successes. but this poor woman, whom you so despise, neither shares her successes or her many failures, rather she gives me of herself - from the depth of her inner well she washes my feet with love. truly i tell you it is not by your success or your failure that you will be judged, but by your love."
Jesus knows that we are not our successes or our failures; for both the "winners" and the "losers" in the eyes of the world are all broken people needing to be healed. healing comes through mercy and compassion which flows without end or measure from the heart of God. that is why no matter what we do, no matter how much we accomplish or how much we fail, no matter how much people praise us or condemn us, God is always for us. the psalmist writes - "even if your father or mother should abandon you, I the Lord will never abandon you."
this is why when Jesus was asked "what is the greatest of the commandments?" He did not answer by saying its by being successful in this or that action, but "the greatest commandment is this - to love God with your whole being. and the second is like the first, to love your neighbor as yourself. this is the whole of the law and the prophets." it is by our love, not our successes or failures, that we are truly known; and it is through Love that we find healing, renewal, and eternal life.
©2010 halley low
perfect people
have you ever met a perfect person? i have not, but i have met a few who claimed to be. i remember one man in particular, he told me that since he met Jesus he "never sins anymore",that in fact he is "a perfected person". i was amazed. no one i know who is a friend of Jesus, including myself, has any thing like that kind of track record. i asked him what exactly he meant by being perfected and sinning no more. he told me he had been a hard drinker, and big with the ladies, and loved to gamble, but now he did none of that. that's wonderful i said to him; then i asked if he every became impatient with other people, or spoke unkindly about or to someone, and if he was completely honest and transparent in all his dealings. he thought to himself for a moment and admitted that he was at times guilty of those things, but quickly added that those things were "little sins" and he was talking about "big sins".
surely he is not alone in his thinking. many of us focus on one or another behavior or thought pattern as being "really" sinful, and minimize other actions. often too we only focus on "personal" sins and fail to reflect on our participation in "social" sins, a good example of which is racism. so if we overcome that which we view as "really sinful" we could easily delude ourselves into believing that we have become "perfected".
i am thinking of a friend of mine who was a long time drug abuser. he has been clean for well over a decade now and is fond of declaring himself to be a good person. in affirming his status as a good person he can not tolerate any question about present behaviors that may not be good, because he confuses being a good person with meaning that everything he does is good. no doubt he is a good person, and has overcome by grace many of the problems in his past, and i know that he does strive to be honest in his dealings with others. what he doesn't realize is that his refusal to look at himself critically actually hampers his growth.
its not about being perfect; its about growing in perfection. both my friend and the gentleman who claimed to be perfect, can't tolerate the thought that now that they have overcome those big obstacles there may still be more work to be done. they are, like us all, damaged human beings but their pride in their successes doesn't allow them to admit that they are still damaged and at times fail. their egos are fragile, and to protect themselves from pain they unconsciously pretend they have arrived at the mountain top, and not just one of many plateaus in their journey up the mountain of life.
the obvious problem with mistaking a plateau for the summit is that it cuts us off from further ascent. worse yet it sets us up for a really big sin. if we believe that we are perfected then there is no more need for us to remove the dirt from our eyes. in believing our vision to be perfect we can now freely and easily point out the speck of dust in the eyes of others. we can easily maximize the flaws in others so they out shine any thing we may still find lingering or disturbing in ourselves.
it is far better to understand that its ok that we are not yet perfect. to recognize that God is still working within us individually, and within our society (that is our collective-sevles), towards the perfection we impatiently want to claim before its time. accepting ourselves for where we are, and being open to where we are going, then becomes the truth of our lives, and a source of peace as well as wisdom.
surely he is not alone in his thinking. many of us focus on one or another behavior or thought pattern as being "really" sinful, and minimize other actions. often too we only focus on "personal" sins and fail to reflect on our participation in "social" sins, a good example of which is racism. so if we overcome that which we view as "really sinful" we could easily delude ourselves into believing that we have become "perfected".
i am thinking of a friend of mine who was a long time drug abuser. he has been clean for well over a decade now and is fond of declaring himself to be a good person. in affirming his status as a good person he can not tolerate any question about present behaviors that may not be good, because he confuses being a good person with meaning that everything he does is good. no doubt he is a good person, and has overcome by grace many of the problems in his past, and i know that he does strive to be honest in his dealings with others. what he doesn't realize is that his refusal to look at himself critically actually hampers his growth.
its not about being perfect; its about growing in perfection. both my friend and the gentleman who claimed to be perfect, can't tolerate the thought that now that they have overcome those big obstacles there may still be more work to be done. they are, like us all, damaged human beings but their pride in their successes doesn't allow them to admit that they are still damaged and at times fail. their egos are fragile, and to protect themselves from pain they unconsciously pretend they have arrived at the mountain top, and not just one of many plateaus in their journey up the mountain of life.
the obvious problem with mistaking a plateau for the summit is that it cuts us off from further ascent. worse yet it sets us up for a really big sin. if we believe that we are perfected then there is no more need for us to remove the dirt from our eyes. in believing our vision to be perfect we can now freely and easily point out the speck of dust in the eyes of others. we can easily maximize the flaws in others so they out shine any thing we may still find lingering or disturbing in ourselves.
it is far better to understand that its ok that we are not yet perfect. to recognize that God is still working within us individually, and within our society (that is our collective-sevles), towards the perfection we impatiently want to claim before its time. accepting ourselves for where we are, and being open to where we are going, then becomes the truth of our lives, and a source of peace as well as wisdom.
Monday, April 5, 2010
to be the image of God
the bible tells us that we are made "in the image of God". but what does that mean? it is a statement about our purpose. and isn't that what we are all searching for, our purpose? and here it is - to be the image of God. we are singled out from all creation, even though we are part of creation, to be God's image, that is to be God's representatives on earth. to understand what i am saying we need to look at the historical context of the statement "created in the image of God".
in the ancient near eastern world it was a common practice for a ruler to erect images of him/herself throughout the area they ruled. the image served to represent the ruler and to tell whoever may wander through their land that they were in charge. so when the bible says we are made in God's image it is telling us that our purpose is to be God's representatives on earth. this is why we are instructed to go forth and populate the whole earth, so that everywhere on earth God's image announces to the whole of creation (including the whole of humanity) that God is the Lord of the whole earth.
sadly we have often misunderstood what it means to represent God, and that misunderstanding has lead to a lot of insanity. but if we remember that the call to be the image of God means that we are called to act as representatives of God we can correct that insanity. to represent anyone one must be true to whom they represent. a vassal rules in the name of his/her lord and thus rules like his/her lord. so for instance, a vassal of ceasar would rule with the iron fist of ceasar. sadly we have too often ruled as if we were in ceasar's image and not God's.
how does God rule? does God rule with an iron fist? does God impose on the individual's freedom to choose, even if that choice is contrary to God's will? all we need do to answer that question is look at our own lives. do we live under compulsion from God? are we forced to walk a certain way or are we allowed the freedom to make our own choices? the answer is obvious. God is a God of compassion and a respecter of freedom, a gift given by God to all beings. we are not called to dominate and exploit nature or one another; we are called to care for and love nature and one another, as God loves. nature is for our use not our abuse. people are not pawns in our games, or expandable commodities in our blind pursuit of self "happiness". such ideas disconnect us from who we truly are and bring much insanity and pain into our world. careless self-centeredness is not a true representation of God, therefore we are called to be true to the God whose image we are made in.
we are called to a great purpose. we are created in the image of Love for "God is love". of course the choice is ours to make. we can create sanity or insanity, harmony or disharmony; we can be true to ourselves and God, or not. what will we choose; what do you choose today?
"blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God."
©2010 halley low
in the ancient near eastern world it was a common practice for a ruler to erect images of him/herself throughout the area they ruled. the image served to represent the ruler and to tell whoever may wander through their land that they were in charge. so when the bible says we are made in God's image it is telling us that our purpose is to be God's representatives on earth. this is why we are instructed to go forth and populate the whole earth, so that everywhere on earth God's image announces to the whole of creation (including the whole of humanity) that God is the Lord of the whole earth.
sadly we have often misunderstood what it means to represent God, and that misunderstanding has lead to a lot of insanity. but if we remember that the call to be the image of God means that we are called to act as representatives of God we can correct that insanity. to represent anyone one must be true to whom they represent. a vassal rules in the name of his/her lord and thus rules like his/her lord. so for instance, a vassal of ceasar would rule with the iron fist of ceasar. sadly we have too often ruled as if we were in ceasar's image and not God's.
how does God rule? does God rule with an iron fist? does God impose on the individual's freedom to choose, even if that choice is contrary to God's will? all we need do to answer that question is look at our own lives. do we live under compulsion from God? are we forced to walk a certain way or are we allowed the freedom to make our own choices? the answer is obvious. God is a God of compassion and a respecter of freedom, a gift given by God to all beings. we are not called to dominate and exploit nature or one another; we are called to care for and love nature and one another, as God loves. nature is for our use not our abuse. people are not pawns in our games, or expandable commodities in our blind pursuit of self "happiness". such ideas disconnect us from who we truly are and bring much insanity and pain into our world. careless self-centeredness is not a true representation of God, therefore we are called to be true to the God whose image we are made in.
we are called to a great purpose. we are created in the image of Love for "God is love". of course the choice is ours to make. we can create sanity or insanity, harmony or disharmony; we can be true to ourselves and God, or not. what will we choose; what do you choose today?
"blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God."
©2010 halley low
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