During a kitchen table dialogue, a request was made to visit the Colorado National Monument. And so, early one morning, before the dialogue was to begin, several of us did just that. I found myself drawn to a favorite point of land that juts out into a deep canyon… an eastward looking precipice that provides ideal seating for experiencing the unfolding of the morning as the sun brings to life ever changing imagery along the canyon walls. Innerly I was holding – living with – the question of synthesis, contemplating the synthesis of the word and the works… trying to be open to an experience of that.
It was in this context that my eyes fell upon a small, but vibrant, juniper that was determinedly, willfully, eking a living on a rock… a rock devoid of soil, but one with a tiny crack out from which flourished the miniature juniper. As I openly gazed upon it, I began to notice an authentic witnessing of the life force – the very force, the willful force, the intentional force of life itself. Without awareness of thought, I continued to absorb. Then, with a sense of “needing to move,” I left this spot and wandered off the trail towards the wall of the cliff behind me. Within a short distance I found myself in the presence of another juniper. It too was living in and through a crack in the rock, a crack that had obviously been enlarged through time by what was now a mature juniper… a fully mature, splendid statement. And as I stood before it, with the morning sun full upon it, the deep blue desert sky behind and coming through it… my inner experience was that of witnessing – being witness to – realization, the realization of potential… the manifestation of spirit… the fulfilling of intent. It was within the whole of this that the inner seeing of the first tree being actualization – the coming into being of potential, the manifestation of the life force – began to take place. Further I saw the tree that I was in the presence of as realization… and together they symbolized and glorified the intended working of life itself.
Towards the end of this day I listened to a reading of the Gospel of Mark (Mk 13:24-33), being asked to reflect on it. As I listened, the vivid experience and imagery of the early morning trees became fully present. I could sense the energy and spirit of both “beginning to mingle,” to be both absorbed and enlivened by each other’s presence… a working toward coalescence and synthesis.
I retired for the evening with that imagery. I awoke early the next morning with an inner sense of some seeing and understanding seeking to be manifested… a strong enough sense such that as a partner arrived, I said, “I think there is something here that is trying to be expressed. Perhaps it’s worth writing down.” And so, I slowly began to speak – speaking from imagery that was leading me along a path. What was said was diligently recorded. After reflecting upon what was written, it was decided to leave it in an unaltered state… a seemingly right decision, even though I experienced a bit of discomfort, and assumed others might as well.
What was spoken and recorded…
Regarding the Gospel of Mark (13:24-33), and the image of two trees, one of actualization, one of realization, the following is emerging (my first real experienced and experienceable synthesis of the word and the works)…
Christ:
When I fulfill the intent – do the work of the Father that the Father sent me to do – I will return to the Father. When I am called, only the Father knows, not even the Son of Man. Do not look to me. I am not worthy enough to be on the inner circle of understanding to know when the call will come. But I do know this. Pay attention now! When I return, all will blow, shake, etc., for the fulfilling of my work is regeneration of the returning process for the whole of the ongoing creation. The returning of souls to the Source of creation is essential to the vitality of the creation process itself. Opening up the pathway is my work.
In the doing of my work was the manifestation of my spirit in fulfilling of the intent of the Creator. Thus not only was vitality regenerated, but intention was made actual… such that it is now possible to realize the potential that I made actual; that is, becoming intentional beings. Now is the time of potential – the time of realizing the potential to be and become intentional.
Thus remembering the counsel – the wisdom of Christ – when he said, “I am leaving, going back to joyous celebration… but my word is real forever”…
Christ:
So do not be pursuing me – Jesus. I am not even on the inner circle of the unfolding intent of the Father. But you can, with all the faith and conviction that is accessible to humanity, ‘bet the farm’ on my word; wisely pursue my word, not the personage of Jesus. It is about Thy kingdom come, Thy intent being done, on this earth at this time… a work that is made possible through my death and resurrection, and is doable because you only have to “follow me.” The path is clearly in front of you. “Be not afraid; for I go before you.” Listen for the Master’s voice. For you never know when the realization of your instrumentality will be called upon by only he who knows – the Father.
Now, go forth, take up the work the Father has given you in regards to the whole of creation; to the whole of life itself. For this is “the way, the truth and the life” – the path of potential, path of intention, the path of hope and love that truly lays before you.
Returning is all about vitality – the vitality necessary to sustain the process of creation. Becoming is all about viability – sustaining the ongoingness of the process of creation. In this we can see that the Father, the Source of creation, ‘bet the farm’ on the “Yes” – Mary’s “Yes” – because creation itself was dying. Of course earth would shake, etc., because this earth is a place of living creation itself. Earth is woven into the living system of creation. From the human perspective, earth is a place for humankind to build soul, manifest spirit, experience life… a place to do our part – take our intended role – in regards to sustaining the process of creation. Soul building is about vitality; manifesting spirit is about viability. At this time of potential, what is required for the particular unfolding that needs to occur in regard to the creation process is not so much about personal soul; it’s about community soul… about building the soul of humanity, the nature of nourishing – of vitalizing nourishment – required for the intended unfolding at this time. What is required to bring about viability of the intended unfolding is the manifesting of community spirit – the manifesting of the spirit of humanity, the fulfilling of the intent of the Creator of the whole of humanity for our becoming fully and truly human. And thus, given the truth of ‘as above, so below,’ we can see by reflecting on the intended way of working of life – of the community of life on this earth – all returning processes are intended to bring vitalizing nourishment of the process of life itself. And all work, be it bees pollinating, etc., is intended to enable the manifesting of spirit for the viability of the whole of the creation of life itself. (Thus the ending of the story of the whole of the whole).
Christ:
Do not look to me… look to the intent of the Father. Only he is good. But the one thing about me you can ‘bet the farm’ on is my word. “My word will not pass away.”
The Old Testament was an instrument for the work of the time before Christ. It contained some eternal truths which became enfolded into the wisdom Christ manifested here on earth. Seek to see, understand and follow the wisdom of Christ… to follow the path on which he has gone before – gone before us. Do not be tempted by the spinouts – the off path work – of reasoned interpretations of the word… the endless arguments, debates, aggression and hate that follow. Rather be open to love, to being and becoming instruments for love entering the process, rather than pursuing expert interpretation of the word, which has no vitalizing or viability within it.
The truth about life is “It’s all about life.” Christ came to sustain life – the creation process of life itself.
At this time, what is plugged up is the becoming process. We are so caught up in the returning process that we forget our work here is all about becoming. When Christ opened the return process, he built soul and manifested spirit. If we do not take up our work, we do not build soul and cannot manifest spirit… for each and all, the whole of life. All our processes are soulless and through them, we cannot manifest spirit. That is the jam we are in.
This which is reflected here is voice to intuition; now bring courage to conscience. It is time for death to the accommodation principle… accommodation to capacity of the receivers… accommodation to the illusion of a source outside of the one and only Source of creation.
Terry P. Anderson
Philosopher of Potential
