Excellent post and beautifully put. As promised, you are in my thoughts and prayers that the forecasted weather is less severe than that which has been suggested! xx
Not about the upcoming weather :) but perfection. Robert Browning wrote, "God's in his heaven, and all's right with the world." The concept that everything is actually perfect and just as it should be is one of the most paradoxical and difficult to comprehend, and accept. We see "imperfection" all around us and, in this world of duality, the existence of good and evil seems not only self-evident, but the recognition of good and evil seems to be a practical necessity from a moral standpoint. This view forms the basis for one of the most unsolvable philosophical dilemmas - "the problem of evil," which is: If God is omnipotent, They cannot be all good because They at least tolerate, if not have created, evil. If God is all good, They cannot be omnipotent, because Their goodness has not been able to destroy evil.
Yet good and evil is a dualistic construct and Oneness is almost by definition beyond good and evil. Mystics and many philosophers will tell us that Oneness is the only Reality - all else is unreal, an illusion, a non-existence. Yet all this illusion proceeds from, is a projection of, the One and, the One being Perfect, so is Their Creation - though it is at the same time imperfect because it is ultimately non-existent or, in another sense, its existence is contingent, absolutely dependent on the existence of the One Existent.
From another viewpoint, God is Love, and Love is Perfection. Since there is nothing other than God, there is nothing other than Perfection. The entire Play of Creation is a manifestation of Love. It is all Perfect as it should be. It is only our limited vision and understanding that fails to see the Perfection that is all around.
I believe the idea of perfection in this post is about the difference in being taught that all humans are born with original sin (and it was St Augustine who created that and what the Christians churches teach. And we need to be redeemed by the savior, Jesus Christ who has that purpose. This is why we have the 'true believers' today who think all they have to do is say they believe in Jesus and no matter what they do, they are forgiven. That is not the same as knowing actions as being good or evil. That is intent. But we can't always judge the effects of our intent, even if it seems good. So yes...many dilemmas and God is not a 'he' orchestrating things from his own personal cloud, which is what the patriarchal church led us to believe. There's a really comical aspect to the bible story of Miriam, older sister of Moses, and I did a post on this, because when Miriam and Aaron suggest Moses put them in charge if he ever needs to disappear again (to get 10 commandments or whatever) God walks into their tent to chastise, not Aaron, but Miriam. Gives her leprosy and banishes her from the tribe for her audacity as a female. Her brothers petition and she is released from that but, really????? I wonder what God was wearing. 'God' in Creation Spirituality is an ongoing creative force that pervades all things, constantly moving through and in no way judgmental about where it goes. I agree with this.
I was just recalling around this same time in 2024 when my electricity went out for 4 1/2 days… when it was around 20° outside. I actually stayed here! 🥶 I had loads of candles and Christmas lights that operated on batteries, but I was *woefully* underprepared.
Just this past week, I ordered an electric camping stove with butane canisters, stocked up on low denomination cash bills and purchased a couple battery operated lanterns.
You will do fine, most assuredly, and may The Perfection you speak of surround you…with warmth. ❣️🌟☀️🌷
Thank you. Tomorrow I charge my big battery charger, take a shower and wash my hair. I should have hot water because it's on gas when the other stuff is out. I will mourn my food. My neighbor across the street and next door have gas stoves so if it's possible to get there I might be able to cook some before it goes bad.
Excellent post and beautifully put. As promised, you are in my thoughts and prayers that the forecasted weather is less severe than that which has been suggested! xx
Thank you! I feel those thoughts and prayers are working. 💜
Not about the upcoming weather :) but perfection. Robert Browning wrote, "God's in his heaven, and all's right with the world." The concept that everything is actually perfect and just as it should be is one of the most paradoxical and difficult to comprehend, and accept. We see "imperfection" all around us and, in this world of duality, the existence of good and evil seems not only self-evident, but the recognition of good and evil seems to be a practical necessity from a moral standpoint. This view forms the basis for one of the most unsolvable philosophical dilemmas - "the problem of evil," which is: If God is omnipotent, They cannot be all good because They at least tolerate, if not have created, evil. If God is all good, They cannot be omnipotent, because Their goodness has not been able to destroy evil.
Yet good and evil is a dualistic construct and Oneness is almost by definition beyond good and evil. Mystics and many philosophers will tell us that Oneness is the only Reality - all else is unreal, an illusion, a non-existence. Yet all this illusion proceeds from, is a projection of, the One and, the One being Perfect, so is Their Creation - though it is at the same time imperfect because it is ultimately non-existent or, in another sense, its existence is contingent, absolutely dependent on the existence of the One Existent.
From another viewpoint, God is Love, and Love is Perfection. Since there is nothing other than God, there is nothing other than Perfection. The entire Play of Creation is a manifestation of Love. It is all Perfect as it should be. It is only our limited vision and understanding that fails to see the Perfection that is all around.
PS, best wishes for the storm experience to be easier than we might have imagined.
I believe the idea of perfection in this post is about the difference in being taught that all humans are born with original sin (and it was St Augustine who created that and what the Christians churches teach. And we need to be redeemed by the savior, Jesus Christ who has that purpose. This is why we have the 'true believers' today who think all they have to do is say they believe in Jesus and no matter what they do, they are forgiven. That is not the same as knowing actions as being good or evil. That is intent. But we can't always judge the effects of our intent, even if it seems good. So yes...many dilemmas and God is not a 'he' orchestrating things from his own personal cloud, which is what the patriarchal church led us to believe. There's a really comical aspect to the bible story of Miriam, older sister of Moses, and I did a post on this, because when Miriam and Aaron suggest Moses put them in charge if he ever needs to disappear again (to get 10 commandments or whatever) God walks into their tent to chastise, not Aaron, but Miriam. Gives her leprosy and banishes her from the tribe for her audacity as a female. Her brothers petition and she is released from that but, really????? I wonder what God was wearing. 'God' in Creation Spirituality is an ongoing creative force that pervades all things, constantly moving through and in no way judgmental about where it goes. I agree with this.
Sending prayers for you
Thank you!
Thanks for another great post Shellie…❣️🦋
I was just recalling around this same time in 2024 when my electricity went out for 4 1/2 days… when it was around 20° outside. I actually stayed here! 🥶 I had loads of candles and Christmas lights that operated on batteries, but I was *woefully* underprepared.
Just this past week, I ordered an electric camping stove with butane canisters, stocked up on low denomination cash bills and purchased a couple battery operated lanterns.
You will do fine, most assuredly, and may The Perfection you speak of surround you…with warmth. ❣️🌟☀️🌷
-Leslie
Thank you. Tomorrow I charge my big battery charger, take a shower and wash my hair. I should have hot water because it's on gas when the other stuff is out. I will mourn my food. My neighbor across the street and next door have gas stoves so if it's possible to get there I might be able to cook some before it goes bad.
Yes…charge EVERYTHING!! Best wishes for smooth sailing thru all this…🙏🙏🦋