Poured in waves

"God is no fixed point or central government, but rather is poured in waves through all things. All things move."

(from the poem "What He Thought" by Heather McHugh)


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In a poem that discusses what poetry is, McHugh refers to the execution of Giordano Bruno, a 16th century scientist and philosopher. He was burned at the stake for heresy.

Bruno, like Spinoza, expressed a pantheistic theology. He refused to say that the transcendent Other is actually other--separate. Bruno also espoused multiple universes.
He was way before his time. Physicists in our day confirm his basic understanding of reality. Current theological discussions among some Jewish and Christian thinkers, as well as non-dualistic spiritualities, affirm Bruno's religious vision, perhaps splitting hairs about absolute pantheism.

All things move. God is no fixed point.

We can no longer get our fix through an unmoved Mover or nailed down dogma.

God is poured in waves through all things.

Every winter

"Behold, we know not anything;
I can but trust that good shall fall
At last--far off--at last, to all,
And every winter change to spring."

(Alfred Lord Tennyson, from "In Memoriam")


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This is real faith. It admits ignorance. It names itself Agnostic.

Faith and agnosticism are not rivals, they are twins. To have faith is to not know. "We know not anything." What a clear, honest and courageous statement! Fake faith pretends to know. When we have real faith, we know that we do not know.

Nevertheless, we trust. We trust something or someone. We trust Goodness. We give ourselves into the hands of that power that transforms the barrenness of winter into the vitality of spring.

In the Christian tradition we call it the resurrection of Christ. You may call it something else.

I trust that good shall fall to all, and overcome the Fall.

Prison of Meritocracy

"They remain inside the prison of meritocracy..."
(Richard Rohr, in The Naked Now)

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The prison of meritocracy is a terrible place to spend life. Rohr is talking about living with the belief that everything has to be deserved. Dividing the world into the 'deserving' and the 'undeserving' is a tireless job. The way to escape this prison is to open one's heart and mind to make room: create a spaciousness in one's consciousness. Let go of the gavel and take off the judge's robe. Let be. Live by grace and allow others the same freedom.

Invitations

"I know those habits that can ruin your life still send their invitations."
(words of Hafiz; from A Year with Hafiz,  by Daniel Ladinsky)

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Have you had an invitation to become angry lately?
Has someone's words sent you an invitation to break up a relationship?
Has an invitation arrived in your brain to feel sorry for yourself?

Invitations can be turned down.