we can truly, madly, deeply to coin a phrase, recognise our connection to one another. There’s the luminous, immaculate Truth - and then there’s other people.
Over the years I have had to acknowledge, reluctantly, that personal spiritual experience can actually make us more, not less, selfish – by reinforcing our sense of being special, unique or chosen. As a wise person once said to me “You can’t
love God and hate other people”. “What?” I want to exclaim, “even those bigoted, violent, ignorant, incompetent, irritating, rude, inconsiderate people?” “Yes” replies the quiet voice, even those”.
You see, humans are very capable of compassion – yes, even me. What we find difficult is to extend our compassion beyond a special circle of chosen people, plants, animals and places to the Whole Creation.
My idea of God makes no sense at all if all that compassion is just for me. God is only believable to me if He is able to offer the same compassion to all beings, without
discrimination. This, unfortunately, includes people I personally do not know, do not like, or against whom I hold a grievance. Which means to say She is a God Who is as ready to protect others from my selfishness, vengefulness and hurtfulness as She is ready to protect me from theirs – in much the way a loving parent protects her children from each other’s cruelty.
I’ll let you into a secret, as long as you promise not to tell anyone. As an Interfaith minister, I do not only seek to appeal to such a God. My ministry is a quest find His qualities in me. And to that end, other people are indispensable. Shhh! Did I really say that?
So there you have it whatever my private arrangement with God, I have to come to terms with the fact that the purpose of His Love is lost unless it is shared with others. The more I attempt to keep it to myself, the emptier it becomes. Now perhaps you can see why for me ministry is not simply a choice made upon on a whim, but literally a life-line to save me from myself.
|Editor's Note: This is an edited version. If you would like to read the full version please contact Razia at [email protected]
PART TWO WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE NEXT EDITION OF GRACEVINE
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