Swaying Within the Web of the eternal divine

Richard Rohr can help us dive into this discussion of the Eternal Divine: The here-and-now has the power to become the gateway and the breakthrough point to the universal. The concrete, the specific, the physical, the here-and-now—when we can be present to it in all of its ordinariness—becomes the gateway to the Eternal. 

In the heaven and hell dualistic way of thinking, eternal life begins after death. Quite succinctly, heaven is to come if we do the right things now, in this life, we can earn eternal life. Even as this worldview is not unique to Christianity, it has been a part of and continues to permeate much of Christian theology.

Richard Rohr helps us see a more inclusive, expansive, and experiential understanding, the connection within all of time and space. We are all part of the eternal web of life now and as well as the one to come: The Universal Eternal Now. (my summation).

So that in terms of humanity, humankind in history, we are all part of the eternal now: one long journey of time within the Eternal Divine.

If only we could see it. If only we could live it.

Maybe if and when we can understand that time is not something that begins and ends with us. Think of the cycle of life that we witness. Our ancestors dealt with life and death and went about the business of creating institutions, secular and religious, to answer the deepest questions of life and death.

As a matter of fact, since the beginning of humankind and human thought, life and death have been the subject of endless conversation. This is the basis of Christianity really. To wrestle with life, death, God, and community.

If we can understand that time and God are eternal, then we may begin to understand that we are all part of the web of the eternal Divine. We may see the different strands of the One Eternal Web of the Divine as separate. If we look closely at the web however, in the right light, we may see that it is all connected. Time, space, us and God, we are all stuck together within this web, connected by time and space.

If the wind blows the web to swaying, we all sway with the movement of the Spirit.

If only we could see it. If only we could live it.

No matter where we may find ourselves on the different strands of the web, we are all connected within the eternal Divine. If and when we can realize our connectedness we may begin seeing each human as part of the Divine creation. This seeing may help to stem the tide of mistreating each other.

If only we could live it.

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. This is one the most well known sayings in the world: The Golden Rule. Not just in Christianity from Jesus. But in all faiths this is expressed in different ways and languages. This rule, or spiritual truth, can help us see how connected we are. That to treat the world as we wish to be treated is a much better way to live together on this tiny little dot in the universe we call earth.

It is even deeper than that. Our well being is collective much more than individualistic. We are tied together much more than we are seperated.

This is the lesson of the Eternal Web of the Divine. When we understand, learn as then to live as if we are our neighbor. Not each others neighbor. But we are the neighbor. What we do to others we do ourselves.

If only we could see it. If only we could live it.

Then we may be able to live and thrive together in peace, love, compassion, and thriving for all of human kind.

Love God, neighbor, self. Not one or the other. All three in loving harmony.

This is the design of the universe.

This is the design of the Eternal Web of the Divine.