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Posted May 31, 2011 by Charlie Van Dyke in From The Editor
“May the God of your choice bless you.” (Kinky Friedman)
Frequently, I’ve had a thought that at the end of time, all creation will gather in a giant auditorium. Out of habit, we will cluster with others who thought in ways similar to our own. So, there might be a section for those of the Jewish faith, sections for the various Christian traditions, and so on. There would even be a section for those who had more questions than answers or never really questioned at all. Some will look around and reconnect with family and friends. Some will feel a bit of surprise that “those” people are also in the auditorium.
At some point, the lights would dim. A bright spotlight would illuminate the center of the stage and the Creator would appear. “Welcome! I am delighted that you are all here,” the Creator might say. “It is going to take an eternity for me to explain all that I want to share with you. And this assembly is really Lesson #1. I see that you have all gathered with the groups you were comfortable with on earth.” Then the Creator might chuckle and continue. “You see, each of you had a piece of the whole truth in your beliefs. Now, I invite you to meet each other and get better acquainted. I love each of you so much and together, you will begin to understand the whole, full story of the plan I had when it all began.” The Creator moves easily around the stage and adds, “Now you know that I always anticipated that you would all be together. For some reason, there were those who held on to rigid thoughts about my plan and some thought that not all creation would be here. Now that your eyes are open, it will be easy for your hearts to feel the love I have always had for each of you and all of you. It has always been all about love.”
The God of your own understanding is good enough. If you do not hold to the specific beliefs of another, it makes no difference. Our goal with Spirit and Word. Org is to celebrate what we have in common rather than what separates us. We hope to share stories of our own journeys and to experience the insights of fellow travelers. We affirm the dignity and worth of all creation. If you are comfortable in a particular faith tradition, we hope you will find encouragement and support here. If you are one with questions and seeking insight, this is a welcoming place for you as well. We are all seekers and all are welcome here.
Our hope is that you will spend time here regularly roaming the site and contributing to the conversations. The site is designed to be a living experience that will grow and expand as visitors guide us. Your stories matter; you matter. Please make yourself at home, get to know each other, and share. We are all related and we hope that by spending time here, we will help each other better understand that relationship and the magnificent connection we all have.
Charlie Van Dyke
Editor
Frequently, I’ve had a thought that at the end of time, all creation will gather in a giant auditorium. Out of habit, we will cluster with others who thought in ways similar to our own. So, there might be a section for those of the Jewish faith, sections for the various Christian traditions, and so on. There would even be a section for those who had more questions than answers or never really questioned at all. Some will look around and reconnect with family and friends. Some will feel a bit of surprise that “those” people are also in the auditorium.
At some point, the lights would dim. A bright spotlight would illuminate the center of the stage and the Creator would appear. “Welcome! I am delighted that you are all here,” the Creator might say. “It is going to take an eternity for me to explain all that I want to share with you. And this assembly is really Lesson #1. I see that you have all gathered with the groups you were comfortable with on earth.” Then the Creator might chuckle and continue. “You see, each of you had a piece of the whole truth in your beliefs. Now, I invite you to meet each other and get better acquainted. I love each of you so much and together, you will begin to understand the whole, full story of the plan I had when it all began.” The Creator moves easily around the stage and adds, “Now you know that I always anticipated that you would all be together. For some reason, there were those who held on to rigid thoughts about my plan and some thought that not all creation would be here. Now that your eyes are open, it will be easy for your hearts to feel the love I have always had for each of you and all of you. It has always been all about love.”
The God of your own understanding is good enough. If you do not hold to the specific beliefs of another, it makes no difference. Our goal with Spirit and Word. Org is to celebrate what we have in common rather than what separates us. We hope to share stories of our own journeys and to experience the insights of fellow travelers. We affirm the dignity and worth of all creation. If you are comfortable in a particular faith tradition, we hope you will find encouragement and support here. If you are one with questions and seeking insight, this is a welcoming place for you as well. We are all seekers and all are welcome here.
Our hope is that you will spend time here regularly roaming the site and contributing to the conversations. The site is designed to be a living experience that will grow and expand as visitors guide us. Your stories matter; you matter. Please make yourself at home, get to know each other, and share. We are all related and we hope that by spending time here, we will help each other better understand that relationship and the magnificent connection we all have.
Charlie Van Dyke
Editor
Tags:
God, Tradition, Connection, Relationship, Choice
Genia Stephenson wrote at June 11, 2011
0 Votes 
This is the best version of the song 'Ebony & Ivory' that I've ever heard & seen. Enjoy it & reflect on relationships of ALL kinds.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmALA8miQY8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmALA8miQY8
Last Update on June 11, 2011 by Genia Stephenson
Genia Stephenson wrote at June 9, 2011
0 Votes
"We are all related and we hope that by spending time here, we will help each other better understand that relationship and the magnificent connection we all have".
Charlie Van Dyke
Editor
Dear Charlie,
What you've said is PROFOUND & so true. When my daughter was a child, she started saying, "We are all related in God's way". Where she learned that concept/expression mystifies me to this day other than her being a child, still, fresh from the presence of our Creator & not, yet, influenced by mortal experiences. Oh, if we could ALL only view life through the eyes of a child, perhaps, everything would be simple & uncomplicated by 'adult' emotions. I enjoyed the analogy you made about all of us, at the end of time, gathered together in a giant auditorium. Even though we tended to gravitate to our comfort zone groups there, we were all, still, under the same 'roof' as ONE entity. If we took the time & effort to get to KNOW one another there could be no dissention, hate, unkindness in this World &, thus, no resultant war. After all, how could you war against someone you know & like. In the musical 'South Pacific' there is a song that emphasizes that very point; that you've got to be TAUGHT to hate & fear people that are 'different' from yourself. One of my favorite songs at church(not a secularly known Hymn but a privately written song)is 'Make Us One'. An equivalent, contemporary song would be 'Ebony & Ivory'. Why can't we ALL get along with each other even if it takes 'just' agreeing to disagree as is said? Apparently, that's no easy task. Thank you for this website. It gives opportunity to express thoughts, ideas, emotions, feelings & more.
Charlie Van Dyke
Editor
Dear Charlie,
What you've said is PROFOUND & so true. When my daughter was a child, she started saying, "We are all related in God's way". Where she learned that concept/expression mystifies me to this day other than her being a child, still, fresh from the presence of our Creator & not, yet, influenced by mortal experiences. Oh, if we could ALL only view life through the eyes of a child, perhaps, everything would be simple & uncomplicated by 'adult' emotions. I enjoyed the analogy you made about all of us, at the end of time, gathered together in a giant auditorium. Even though we tended to gravitate to our comfort zone groups there, we were all, still, under the same 'roof' as ONE entity. If we took the time & effort to get to KNOW one another there could be no dissention, hate, unkindness in this World &, thus, no resultant war. After all, how could you war against someone you know & like. In the musical 'South Pacific' there is a song that emphasizes that very point; that you've got to be TAUGHT to hate & fear people that are 'different' from yourself. One of my favorite songs at church(not a secularly known Hymn but a privately written song)is 'Make Us One'. An equivalent, contemporary song would be 'Ebony & Ivory'. Why can't we ALL get along with each other even if it takes 'just' agreeing to disagree as is said? Apparently, that's no easy task. Thank you for this website. It gives opportunity to express thoughts, ideas, emotions, feelings & more.
Last Update on June 11, 2011 by Genia Stephenson
English (US) 