20 February 2010

The Light Within

The groin-vaulted ceiling looms over 600 feet above as I stand in the center of the nave of the Church of St. John the Divine in New York City. Every time the clouds shift outside, the rose window behind me and the immense stained glass windows to either side of me begin to glow, sprinkling red and blue light-glimmers on the walls and pillars of this Gothic revival church. St. John the Divine is an Episcopal church, and I'm a Catholic, but I wouldn't say I'm necessarily a Catholic over an Episcopal for any particular reason; I just am. So to me, a church is a church is a church, regardless of what denomination it is. Despite being Catholic, I tend to not even be such a great Catholic, and just believe that all gods are the same God. You know, a rose by any other name is still a rose. That kind of thing. Sitting on one of the nave's wooden, hard-backed chairs, I started thinking about being a Catholic, albeit not a great one. At least, I thought, I gave up candy for the 40 days of Lent. Then I thought, But I kind of only did that because I wanted an excuse to stop eating so much candy. Not really to praise or sacrifice for God. But what else could I do? So tI decided that I'm going to try to pray more, not formally or anything, just some acknowledgment thrown up high every once in a while. And maybe go to some kind of church. Although, honestly, it could be Buddhist or Jewish and I think I'd still feel like I was connecting with God. But I then realized that I don't believe we don't need churches and texts to find God. I think spiritual energy is in everything that surrounds us - the snow melting from the roof, the birds chirping outside by my air conditioner - and that God is inside each of us. We are all God.

3 comments:

the walking man said...

Chris...It's not where you start on a spiritual journey that matters. One can begin the trek from any box, Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist or any sub-sect thereof, it is where one ends the journey that counts.

Religion, how much has been written about religions and their place within the cultures of the earth? But to what point? What profit a religion built by men around a central figure that was a man? Little that I can see.

Yet at the same time that does not dispute a simple tenant that if so many feel the pull of an unnamed being within them can it not be so?

I will look for that spirit to show me and once I see I will be able to learn what I need to learn in order to understand the symbiotic nature of the relationship between mortal man and eternal being.

Once I became comfortable without a label the boxes started to vanish and in the vanishing the cosmos opened up to my simple footfall. religion is the walking not the destination.


Music...every generation throws their heroes up the pop charts. Think Back, Mozart, Gene Autry, Woody Guthrie, The Beatles, The Clash, Cure, Depeche Mode, Madonna, Britney up to whomever today.

It was all done for profit and that form of art. Poets and poseurs are no different. We write because there is something gained from it.

I don't think music is dead but I do think the last 2 decades it has gotten more and more corporate and that diminishes them who sell their art for their paycheck.

if it carries you away to a new thought or feeling then no matter when it was made it is good. no?

Anonymous said...

We're a million little gods causing rainstorms and making everything good thing turn to rust

Mary said...

Nice post, Christ. Beautiful sanctuary.
Mary