Hindus,
Muslims, Jews, countless indigenous people – and we here today: when we seek to
understand and connect with the Holy Spirit, Allah – God however named – are we
talking about the same spirit? Is there
some spiritual call center, some switchboard, telling various divine spirits, “It’s
for you”?
I
think not.
I
believe that there is one holy spirit, like a vast, inexhaustible lake of the
purest water, the water of Life. I believe
that spirit is available to all of humanity through a mystical delivery
system. That system can deliver the
water - the spirit - of Life in its pure form, a nourishing if sometimes jolting
blend of love and commitment to seeking truth.
To
make those spiritual messages more comfortable, influenced by the people around
us, our experiences, and our judgments, we put filters in that spiritual
delivery system and we add things to the pure spiritual nourishment it provides. But it turns out that the fruit of the
proverbial tree is not the knowledge of good and evil. It is not the knowledge of right and
wrong. It is the perception of the knowledge of good and evil. It is the perception
of right and wrong. Therefore, we should
hold our perceptions humbly and examine them often.
Holy
spirit, please help me discern the filters I place on your messages. Help me see what I add to your messages. Help me perceive your presence and guidance
in their purest form, such that I may look someone who perceives me as his
enemy straight in the eye and say, “I love you, even if you want to kill me.”
