Once again, a Wisdom Writer who joins with us from afar, has sent a question, a question which emerged as she was dialoguing with one of her gardening friends; that question being “Would ‘Seeing Christ in others’ help people to understand the meaning of ‘Love being present in the process’?”
To get us started, a bit of orientation may be useful… The core philosophy of the path of intent – the core philosophy behind the work of Wisdom Writers – is a good place to start:
Core Philosophy: There is a Source, a Source of the whole of creation. Emanating from the Source is intent and intended ways of working. We as living human beings – intentional members of the community of life – are not the source, but rather intended instruments – instruments to enable intended unfolding, always remembering that if love is not present in the process, love will not be present in the outcomes.
It is helpful to remember that these reflections, for example those related to the oil spill, and “What can we do,” are philosophical, and not religious, in nature. Although there are seemingly many moral issues raised by the individual actions of those involved and who have been brought into the activity since the beginning of the oil spill, our work is to address the subject from a philosophical perspective. Resolving the moral issues, in the absence of living philosophy, does not hold the promise of creating a new path. It may be helpful to recall Pope John Paul II’s words (from “Fides et Ratio”, parts 6 & 106): “With its enduring appeal to the search for truth, philosophy has the great responsibility of forming thought and culture, and now it must strive resolutely to recover its original vocation… Let philosophers and all teachers of philosophy… always strive for truth, alert to the good which truth contains. Then they will be able to formulate the genuine ethics which humanity needs so urgently at this particular time.”
Perhaps we can see what is being said here more clearly if we reflect on the past President Clinton/Monica Lewinsky issue, and on the recent issue of pedophilia in the Catholic Church. In both cases, the moral issues were addressed. Public repentance was declared; as well, we believe it possible that personal reconciliation between God and the individuals also took place. What was missing was the dealing with the question of ethics, the question of the ethical working of systems, systems critical to the healthy working of our society as a whole… in this case, the needs of our culture for healthy working governing, and for healthy working church… healthy working in that we expect and can count on the processes of the institutions being ethical. The persons may have made their peace with God, but the ethical working of the processes of the institutions has been compromised, thus compromising the upward advancement of the civilization itself. With all of that as background, we can now go on to the question.
At this time, Christian religion is organized around salvation… preparing for our returning to the Source. Historically, salvation has been focused on the individual. Its work is to arrest the run-down of the human soul. Aids we have created for ourselves are such guidance as “What would Jesus do?” and “See Christ in everyone.” The human soul is on the path of run-down – the path of immorality – when we make ourselves the source… when we place ourselves above another. “See Christ in everyone” wakes us up to our all being equal at essence. “What would Jesus do?” reminds us he made himself servant so that others might live. These two tools for “reminding” relate to the way we are intended to live with one another and relate to one another, in preparation for our returning to the one true Source. Jesus gave us a most clear, most complete guidance when he said, “Let he among you who is without sin, cast the first stone.”
Philosophy, specifically the living philosophy of potential, is organized around becoming. Becoming is a systems (versus individual for salvation) phenomenon. Its work is that of enabling run-up of all of life, now and into the future… realizing enfolded potential. Being ethical – becoming congruent with intended ways of working – is the process by which we move towards becoming fully and truly human. Humanity becomes one whole, by working systemically to bring the world of our making into congruence with the world of intent – with the intended way of working of the life processes of earth. The reminding guidance on the becoming side of our work, complementary to “Let he among you who is without sin, cast the first stone,” is “If love is not present in our processes, love will not be present in the outcome.” The first guidance relates to our returning… the need for us each to form soul; form a pure soul prepared for our return to the Source. The second guidance relates to our taking up work and roles here on earth at this time, our work and roles in the ongoing unfolding of life – all of life – itself; and by so doing, becoming fully and truly human – as intended. We shed light on the nature of love which is called for by “love in the process” as we read from the book, “Taking the Path of Intent” (p. 25, or www.pathofpotential.org):
- Love as process is all about will… the will that makes all things possible… the will force that is behind the whole of creation, that which sustains the ongoing upward unfolding – the unfolding image of the Source.
With only a bit of reflection on our essential societal processes – processes of educating, healing, governing, and feeding, to name a few – we can see some things. All of these processes are systemic processes; not individual processes. Cultures create systems, through and by which they are able to sustain and “run-up” their being… to become as a people, more fully and truly human. If love is not present – if the intent of the Source is not present – in these processes as they unfold, love will not be present in the outcomes… no matter how noble our cause. We know love is present in our process when we are on the path of bringing the world of our making into congruence with the world of intent – into congruence with the intended way of working of each of life’s creatures and all of the life processes of earth. When love is absent, we are going another way – moving away from intended ways of working… moving away from our intended work and roles – as a people – in enabling the intended ongoing unfolding life processes of earth.
Christ put everything in place for our taking up our part in the work of becoming, for the purposes of “thy will” being done on this earth… for the purposes of taking up our work and roles in fulfilling original intent – the intended ways of working of the unfolding creation of life on this earth – intent which was before the beginning, and certainly before original sin. He taught and lived the truth that “Our work is to do the will of the one who sent us.” He showed us the way of answering YES to “thy will,” not “my will.” Seeing intended ways of working of life and the life processes of earth calls for the intuition of wholeness, fed by the Spirit, Spirit which he made available forever and to all.
Now is the time of becoming… the time for adding to the work of salvation, the work of becoming… the time for taking up our work and role as a people in bringing the world of our making into congruence with the world of intent.
