Together

My reflection today in some sense is very simple yet in other ways is very difficult and complex. One of my early contributions to this fountain reflection blog highlighted what I called my "theological deconstruction." As I have tried to describe this deconstructive journey some have embraced it while others have chosen to dismiss my journey as heresy. As I have offered various explanations related to my experience one particular incident comes to mind of which I would like to share.

Some time ago, while working as a hospital chaplain in Mississippi, I began to experience a kind of awareness that seemed to open the door for additional theological and spiritual understanding. This newfound understanding was very simple yet overwhelming. As this new understanding began to take shape within me I became extremely excited to share it. Such was the case with an incident that occurred one morning. 

I suppose the most telling aspect of this newfound awareness, that I have tried to share in other blog entries, is the fact that God the Trinity already resides within each and everyone of us and the mission of Jesus was to show us the Heavenly Father's heart of love toward each of us. Jesus the Christ is where God and man meet! This meeting did not take place because man did something to make it happen. As a matter of fact mankind resisted the Truth and chose to believe lies about God. 

As my excitement continues to build concerning my newfound spiritual journey I took a chance to bring some enlightenment to one of my colleagues. To say the least, it didn't go very well. Rather than witnessing the kind of awareness that I was beginning to personally experience all I received was one frustration after another. As a matter of fact this person defended herself with Bible verses. She was doing the very thing I used to do myself. Finally I gave up and walked away.

A few weeks later I happened upon a couple of friends as they prepared to do patient rounds. We got into a discussion and all of a sudden they began to ask questions concerning God and Spirit and then I saw it by comparison. There was no resistance and as I shared my deconstructive journey with them their interest captivated the conversation and there was fellowship and love exchanged between us. As we parted company and as I walked away from them I heard a voice coming from within me ask the following question, "See how easy it is when we do it together?"

Now I confess to anyone reading this reflection that all too often I have sought to have a prearranged speech prepared for those crossing my path as though I needed to prove something when what I was trying to accomplish was my concept of "pleasing God." I no longer have to do that! I'm already pleasing to God because of Jesus and so are you. All that is required is simply to love the other. When loving the other takes priority the barriers fall away and fellowship ensues. I continue to hear the echo of those words, "... see how easy it is when we do it together?" I encourage you to find the freedom that is already within you and in doing so loving the other will cause you to know that what we do best we do together!