Have you ever tried to stuff a Jeannie back in it's bottle? OK, let's ask a more realistic question. Do you think it would be possible to reverse the Big Bang? Whether or not you believe that God created this 'Big Bang' , the fact is the universe is expanding almost beyond our comprehension. Can anyone reverse it?
It seems to me that there is a specific essence to everything. Something that God created has a nature all it's own and it has no choice but to obey. Thoughts of Barbara Eden aside, we cannot change what God has created. Our choice is to cooperate and contribute.
Today's passage from Matthew speaks quite pointedly of all this. Salt has it's saltiness, without that character it is of little value. Light? You put on a stand. You don't light a light to hide it. Light is for illumination.
My first real experience with this concept came at a glacier in British Columbia. It had no choice but advancing, even in it's looming death due to global warming, it advanced. The glacier had to be true to itself. I have described this many times before. At that time I was just becoming aware that I might be gay. As funny as that might sound at the age of 50 it scared the hell out of me. The glacier was telling me that if I was gay, there would be no retreating from such a fundamental aspect of my being. It was cooperate with God's plan and contribute or . . . . I do not know. I am not accustomed to saying no to God in such a fundamental way. When I was in therapy and both 'coming out' and 'staying in' so to speak both seemed like unrealistic and impossible choices, I know I began to understand how a person could contemplate suicide. No way to turn. But perhaps that is my answer. Even though I know suicide is a permanent choice to a temporary problem, that solution involves death. Perhaps that is what not cooperating with God is, death. Cooperation, acceptance and love then, is life.
Most of us, I think, do not have to deal with the decision of cooperating with their very nature in such a fundamental way. Saltiness, light, being gay. We can cheat at it too, put the light around the corner for indirect lighting. We now have dimmer switches and the like. But the example of accepting the essence of our being, our very nature, is still clear, bright and strong. Accept the gifts and characteristics which God has created. Enter into your being, appreciate it, get pruny in it. This is true of all creation. Perhaps it is one reason why meditation can yield such enormous peace and truth simply looking at a grain a wheat, a flower or basically anything that God has created. Perhaps acceptance and appreciation of the essence of things is how Mother Theresa could love so many people that were deemed cast offs. Perhaps the very nature of Jesus and His love for us was why he entered into his crucifixion so willingly. His nature was to love us and that is why he did what he did, why he lived as he lived and shared his divinity so freely and completely.
Can God reverse the Big Bang? Let some philosphical or theological brainiac think on that. For me that kind of question is trouble with a capital T. Let's just accept joyfully the essence of things, especially ourselves. Give thanks and praise to God for it and cooperate with that essence and always, always, love yourself and others
Matthew 5:13-20
‘You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
‘You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hidden. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
‘Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfil. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
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