|
Welcome to OneLife Ministries. This site is designed to lead you prayerfully into a heart experience of Divine Presence, Who is Love. I hope persons of varied wisdom paths will find inspiration here.
Blessings,
Brian Kenneth Wilcox
MDiv, MFT, PhD
Interspiritual Teacher, Author; Member of United Communities of Spirit
You are invited to join Brian at his fellowship group on Facebook. The group is OneLife Ministries – A Contemplative Interspiritual Fellowship.
* * *
To the pupil training, in the straight way walking,
By ending [his sins] first comes knowledge;
Straight follows insight; by that insight freed
He knows in very truth: Sure is my freedom
By wearing out the fetter of becoming.
*Buddhism. Itivuttaka: 53.
* * *
A dewdrop, seeing the sun rise, became aware of its surroundings. This dewdrop was proud to be a dewdrop, and content to remain one. The dewdrop looked around and saw many other dewdrops on leaves all around, and this being with so many other dewdrops brought it joy.
The wind blew the tree, and shook and tilted the leaf. The dewdrop began to be afraid. Moving closer to the edge of the leaf, the dewdrop struggled to remain clinging to the leaf. With all its might it sought to be strong, fearing the unknown.
Finally, the dewdrop could hold on no longer. Down it slid, and the dewdrop waited its uncertain fate. As the dewdrop dropped into open space, it saw a refection of itself, as though in a mirror.
The dewdrop saw this mirror get closer and closer, and its reflection larger and larger. Then, “Splash!” into the lake. The dew drop, now part of the whole, thought, “Oh! Why did I ever fear such a death?”
* * *
The word “death” speaks of separation. Yet, separation does not always mean loss. Separation can mean gain. Can mean new life. Can mean closer togetherness. Like when two lovers merge in organismic ecstasy, the self dissolving in the energy of each other. No more making love to or with – no separation, only Loving.
As a child, I enjoyed going to the cemeteries. I walked among the gravesites. I found peace and mystery there. Even as a little child, I knew I walked among bones, not persons.
Yet, death can remind us of the many deaths we can die, even in one lifetime. Deaths can include divorce, job or career loss, foreclosure of our home, a dear friend moving far away, the loss of a dream or our health, … Likewise, each stage of life is a death. We are, truly, dying moment by moment. Dying from the past, into the present. And the present is dying into the future – a new present. Dying is integral to life.
Some of us have died several or many times spiritually. We look back and see that our religious faith or spirituality has undergone many transformations. The loss of a religious or spiritual way can be difficult, even when we know we cannot remain with the viewpoint we have had. I see that my religious belief and practice is far different from my upbringing; I could not have imagined the shape it would take. I cannot imagine how it might look 5, 10, or 20 years from now.
Today, therefore, let us think upon the word “death” positively. Like the dewdrop, how might we be clinging to something we need to release? How might we need to see a loss or potential loss as an opening to something better? Can we look at the physical changes of age and see such as a positive transformation, rather than simply loss of youthfulness? These and other questions we can ask, about how death can be gain, an introduction to a fuller experience of Life and Love, and Joy.
©Brian Wilcox, and OneLife Ministries. 03/13/2010
* * *
*The story of the dewdrop is adapted from Peter Hughes, “The Dew Drop: www.inspirationpeak.com .
*OneLife Ministries is a ministry of Brian Kenneth Wilcox, SW Florida. Brian lives a vowed life and with his two dogs, Bandit Ty and St. Francis. Brian is a member of United Communities of Spirit: A Global Interfaith Initiative, for advancing the cause of understanding and peace among persons of different faiths and beliefs. OneLife Ministries seek to share this spirit of unity among all peoples of faith and humanity as a whole.
*Brian welcomes responses to his writings at briankwilcox@yahoo.com . Also, Brian is on Facebook: search Brian Kenneth Wilcox.
*You can order his book An Ache for Union from major booksellers.
|
