Posted by john on April 12, 2002 at 13:11:07:
In Reply to: A flower in the desert posted by Pastor Steven on April 12, 2002 at 11:19:41:
: Are any of us so deluded? Is this what any of us have claimed or even dreamed? What place will you or anyone create where the entire nature of humankind is miraculously changed when you walk in the door?
: The parallel universe signifies our recognition that God is here, and our beginning/progressive recognition that we are not what we seem. As a result of such understanding, there is truly a marked increase in honest communication and acceptance that cannot be denied. But to take whatever benefit we may realize that is out of the norm and hold it up to an impossible standard that exists nowhere and has never been realized in this life only serves to degrade the beauty of what is really beginning to happen. Why do you feel the need to do this? Why not point out what is real and true and beautiful? -- though it will always be deeply flawed according to your ridiculous standards by which you insist on judging it. Why not enjoy the flower that has miraculously arisen out of the barren desert soil, rather than expound all the reasons why the desert is not an ideal garden?
I know this. And I really don't have a problem with any of it. This whole thread started with Bill's post about feeling like he could explode and I ran with it. Expounding a thought. Then I, in typical fashion that always ends up badly, felt the need to forever pursue the nuances of what I meant in response to other responses. As many people are well aware I have a propensity for being the Devil's advocate. But please don't confuse this with being the Devil (I know Steve doesn't). It is just my personality to offer objections to everything in a sort of purifying process of thought, testing, objecting, defending, and then testing again. But this is only in my head and on this board. I don't take it beyond here. If it really bothers people I'll quit.