He, and you, gave this to me late last night, so it only seems right that I share.
Hours after I sent my reply to you last evening, lying on my granite mattress, entirely unforeseen - 'But if not.' There are probably very few things written or spoken by Dr. King that I haven't studied deeply many many times over the years, including that. But I find his insights into the Truth so profound that every time I read or hear again, it is almost as though it is for the first time. Thank you for directing me to 'But if not' the other day.
It came ringing back into my ears last night invoked by our
dialog of yesterday, yours and mine. Maybe way too briefly I outlined in yesterday's note, my Beliefs, my understandings, that are the Core to me, that which is God for me - the basis of my Life, the basis of all that I do, including the foundation of partnershps. As often I have and do with folks, I acknowledged that I Recognize there maybe more to the Truth than what I value - Heart, Loving, Compassion, Conscience, Humanity, Courage, SERVING OUR LEAST OF THESE, but that if there is, I don't care, I'm not interested, it is not my Business, it wouldn't change me or what I do if I came to 'See' these other things as absolute Truth.
This is what Dr. King was saying, too. 'If you are doing right because you believe in
Heaven, that's not Faith (paraphrasing).' 'If you do right to avoid what traditional theologians (MLK doesn't believe in a physical Heaven or Hell he makes pretty clear here, tho that isn't his point, at all) describe as Hell, that isn't Faith.' I think he could have gone on, or at least, not objected to me doing so - 'If you do right (Living from Heart, Conscience, Serving Our Global Neediest...) because of God, or Jesus, or any other reason, that isn't Faith. If you do right, because you believe that thousands of years ago Miracles were performed, that's not Faith.....'
'But if not.' 'But if you came to see that not one of these things were true, or all ceased to be True in your Heart, if you still do Right, That's Faith,' is a True expansion of what he was saying to me, and what my Heart, Our Father says to me, and Jesus, and Christ, ever since I can remember.
I'm sure it could and would be wildly debated, my understanding of the scripture, 'Let your yes be your yes, and your no be your no.' It finally came clear to me the meaning not many months ago. Probably it came to me after the umpteenth time of hearing from someone, 'Oh, I'm on a mission trip to show Jesus' Love.' Huh, I though? Huh? Is it Jesus' air? Is it Jesus' water? Is Jesus so insecure He wants us to think of 'His' air, 'His' water, 'His' Love? If so, I want no part
of Him, so small, petty, self-centered. BUT I'M SURE NOT! Maybe Love is a sentient God, that does Miracles, that has folks living in physical Heaven or Hell for eternity, but for me, and I think for MLK Jr, Gandhi... 'BUT IF NOT,' God is still Love, His Kingdom, the Heart, His Path of Infinite Joy for us - Serving Our Global Neediest. 'But if not,' I'll do That for the Joy of it, with my last breath.
That is my Faith. That is what MLK Jr, thanks to you, reminded me of, clarified for me, late late last night.
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