Photo by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash.
Today's post is a Facebook post from the Dancing Faith page. I liked it partly because my starword this year is servanthood, and also because I keep being drawn to Philippians 2. I hope you enjoy it.
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Matthew Fox tells the story of when the Dali Lama was speaking at Rice University in Houston, Texas and a person asked him this question: “What is a Buddhist?” He thought for a while and then said, “I don’t know.” Further questions followed, but he was dealing with that one question apparently, for he stopped and said, “Let me go back. A Buddhist”—and he stroked his chest—“is someone with a good heart.” (Daily Meditations, 9/3/22)
It begs the question Fox continues
What is a Christian? Or a Jew? Or a Muslim
If we have any sense at all
that who we are as human creatures
somehow reflects the energy and love
that created (whatever that means)
the universe, the cosmos
this galaxy
this world
we human creatures
and all other beings
if we have any concept at all that we reflect
the Sacred
what does it mean to live that out
along whichever path we have chosen
or whichever path was chosen for us
by our parents
our culture?
I believe that this world is a clue
this world which is the Sacred
giving
offering
loving
don’t believe it?
get up and watch a sunrise
stay up and watch a sunset
wander through a woods
and listen to the wind caressing the trees
and the birds raising their voices in praise
that is the sound of the Sacred Song of Love
or think about that singular human, Jesus
God’s self-portrait
Here among us
That one who modeled self-giving love
Is it not interesting that the way God transformed the world was not by coming in power, but by coming in humility (Philippians 2)
The way God opened the doors to the Kingdom (which was and is near)
Was not by dominating
but by service
The way God worked to “set things right”
Was not through coercion or retribution
But through sacrifice and reconciliation
God in Jesus chose to descend—in almost total counterpoint with our humanity that is always trying to climb, achieve, perform, and prove itself. Jesus chose to descend knowing that ascent would come, in God’s way, and in God’s time.
Jesus chose to empty, knowing that eventually, through the power of God’s love
fullness would come.
So I have to believe
I do believe
God has a good heart
And those who reflect the image of God
Are people with good hearts
And I have to believe that the evidence of a good heart
Is a willingness to serve
To see others as more important than one’s self (Philippians again)
A willing need to see others
Feel with others
Have compassion for others
And serve others
Creeds are nice
Knowledge is nice
Worship is wonderful
Confession is important
but faith is not so much about creed, knowledge, worship,
or even a “confession of faith”
as it is about letting our lives
reflect the giving, emptying, forgiving, restoring heart of God
From Dancing Faith
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