What Did Dante Say? But why am I sharing this with you? Because, like many, I assumed the quote often attributed to Dante was his direct words. It was only upon deeper research that I realized it was an interpretation of his ideas. This realization is a reminder to look beyond the surface and delve deeper into truths, especially in our digital age, where information is so readily shared and often accepted without question.
Dante's actual words describe the fate of those who remain neutral in times of moral crisis. This strikes a chord with me, especially when reflecting on our discussions about social issues, human rights and the responses I've received. Some express their desire to keep our spiritual community free from such topics, preferring a sanctuary from the world's conflicts. However, this creates a dilemma, as my role is to uphold the teachings of the Science of Mind and interpret the Global Vision of our organization.
Guided by Spiritual Principles
Our vision speaks of a world where spirituality intersects with all aspects of life, guided by principles like unity, collaboration, equity, equality, forgiveness, and compassion. It's similar to the sentiment of Jill Jackson-Miller’s song, "The Peace Song," which aligns with our Global Vision. The idea of "Let it begin with me" resonates with us, but it's challenging when confronted with the realities of others' painful and oppressed experiences.
How do we, as spiritual beings, navigate this? The Global Vision encourages us to live in alignment with our highest spiritual truth, not imposing our beliefs but embracing a larger idea of the world. It's about understanding and respecting the diverse spiritual paths that people take, including our own journey to align with what we truly believe.
Reevaluate and Realign
I've realized that even our highest spiritual truths can be clouded by our biases and limitations. We need to constantly reevaluate and align ourselves, much like adjusting a bicycle to fit our unique measurements. If we ride out of alignment, even slightly, it can lead to discomfort and problems. This metaphor applies to our spiritual journey as well.
In our pursuit of a larger understanding, we must consider the impact of our beliefs and actions on the world around us. We see this in our support for causes like the Aids/Lifecycle team and our awareness of global issues like the struggles in Gaza, as reported by the Washington Post. It's not about political statements but about staying informed and aligning our actions with our vision of a compassionate and interconnected world.
As Ernest Holmes said, "Whatever is true of the Universe as a Whole must also be true of the individual as some part of the Whole." This invites us to consider how we live in alignment with the Universe's truths and how that shapes our interactions and responses to the world's challenges.
In closing, I invite you to meditate on these words from "A New Design for Living": "We are all incarnations of [the Divine], [the Divine] is what we are. We never need to prepare to meet our [Divine]; we are meeting [the Divine] every day. But what we do need to do, and what we will always be doing, is to express more and more of [the Divine's] nature through ourselves."
Looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow.
With love and light, Edward Viljoen, Senior Minister
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