I Am Not Better Than
John Bonney of Springfield, OR, USA
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe. -John 14:27-29
When one stands to speak in front of a group of people, it is good to remember that it is not what one says that is remembered, because none of us remembers verbatim, regardless. But what does that which is spoken conjure in the mind of the listener? What is being heard and translated into the thoughts, experiences, and senses of the one that is hearing? And is what imagined and sensed different for each person? Recently it was said from the pulpit something to the effect of “I do not agree with you” or “I do not think as do you.”
Further, we are all different, and consequently we all hear, see, and translate our environment in our own way and manner. I add the obvious; not only that, but we are different in that respect with the 7.4 billion humans on this earth. Now isn’t that miracle in itself? Isn’t that marvel in itself? All different in some aspects, all created somewhat similarly, but all hearing differently, all thinking differently, all sensing life differently, all expressing the creative effect differently. To me that is miracle! That is miracle in the most extensive manner. And I say to myself, “It is enough! It is enough, O my Maker! Now take away my life, for I am not better than my fathers!”
Or my mothers, or my brothers or sisters, cousins, aunts, and grandchildren’s grandchildren-or all of those people with whom I share the struggle to live and to help to live, whom I love and try to help to love. Not better than all of those that also deserve recognition-all of the little furry things, and all of the scaly, distance-creating things, all of those that do not believe as I do, or all of those that wish me harm, or all of those, yes, those, with whom I am intimately associated. “It is enough. Now take away my life, for I am not better than my fathers.”
Prayer Phrase
God is here today. (“Dios est\xc3\xa1 aqu\xc3\xad” CCS 150)
Spiritual Practice
Breathing in the Spirit
Find a comfortable but alert position and begin to breathe deeply. With each breath, feel yourself relax, releasing anything that feels constricting. Imagine that each breath is the wind of the Spirit moving through your being, stirring up what is most alive in you. Relax into the flow of the Spirit and notice what awareness or invitation emerges.
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.
