by Roger Mock
This Sunday evening’s OneSong service reflects on what the New Testament calls the Fruits of the Spirit:
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22)
We reflect on these from an understanding that these attributes represent our True Nature, and here to elucidate that idea further for us is, of all people, the singer Alanis Morissette:
“The truth of who we are is innate goodness, and the whole journey is really about removing any obstacle or false belief that keeps us from knowing that.”
By George, I think she’s got it! Thank you, Alanis!
It’s recognizing that, to quote a rather more ancient source of wisdom, the Upanishads, “The force that pervades all nature, actions and humanity is God.” The text continues, “Those who realize this become immortal.” Well, that’s a nice carrot. But the point is that we are pervaded by love, joy, peace and goodness. That’s what God is. It’s where we came from and it’s who we are. They are not difficult goals that we must strive to attain, they’re more like buried treasure that just needs
1. recognition, and 2. claiming and uncovering:
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.” (Matthew 13:44)
The next thing is to begin to act from that place, to live from that field. That’s where some of that “removing of obstacles” comes into play. It comes down to listening to the right voice and there are ultimately only two as we are likely all aware, fear or love. Fear is the one throwing up obstacle after obstacle, usually in the name of caution and defense. Love recognizes that no defense is needed. It knows that it is immortal.
Jesus didn’t elaborate, but I’m thinking the guy who sold everything to buy that field with all the treasure did not then build a high wall around it with turrets, cannons and a piranha-stocked moat.
We have to decide which voice we’re offering our allegiance to and fortunately we get lots of opportunity to do that. With each decision we make (responding to one or the other voice) we’re either putting another brick in place or we’re taking one down, enlarging our view, and letting in more good. To return to Ms. Morissette’s salient quote, “that’s what the whole journey is about.”
Here’s a pretty succinct statement from A Course in Miracles to close with:
“Deep within you is everything that is perfect, ready to radiate through you and out into the world. It will cure all sorrow and pain and fear and loss because it will heal the mind that thought these things were real, and suffered out of its allegiance to them.” (ACIM, Workbook, Lesson 41)
I’ll invite you to my field if you’ll invite me to yours. Huh. I just looked at the deed. Turns out they border on each other! This calls for a treasure hunt. Bring a shovel.
love and light,
Roger