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Pastimes : Ask God -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Chris land who wrote (23003)	12/3/1998 6:02:00 PM
From: Darrin Vernier	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 39621

Chris, No. I am simply acknowledging that just as there are different phases of life that run in a progression, with each level of understanding replacing the one that came before, and each being good and necessary because it got us to the next, even if it was shown to be less than perfect by the next, so also there is a progression of spiritual growth. Each climbs his own ladder. He takes a step and says,"Now I've got it, this is it!". He wonders how he could be so silly to believe what he did one step before. Then he goes up another step, and repeats the same process. What I am saying is that just as we are upon different steps of the ladder ourselves during our lifetime, so are our neighbors on different steps upon different ladders. It isn't the brand or step of the ladder that determines the destination anymore than is whether we drive a Yugo or a BMW. The intention and purpose of the journeyer determines the destination. If I can see myself passing from one point of understanding to another, and find that there was much I did not know, I do not judge myself as having been bad for not knowing, I call it growth, and I learn. I learn from both who I have become, and who I was. Lately it has occurred to me that neither I, nor many others, have granted that same right of growth to others. When I shut my mouth for a moment and listened, I saw what others were saying in a different light. There is no one way to God. There are as many paths as there are people. And every person has something to teach us about our own path, and ourselves, as well as about them. Any path that claims to be the one and only true way to me instantly disqualifies itself. If making the way broader means to recognize the intent and grace of others through the differences of phrase and appearance, then yes, I am trying to make the way broader. Or better still, I am merely learning to recognize how broad it already is. One cannot make oneself more Holy or correct by denying it of others. Jesus spoke of walking in the Light. Light does not exist unless it is first seen. Unfortunately, after the eyes send the picture on, the mind often interprets the signal in a distorted and selfish way. The light exists or does not exist to us as a matter of our personal choice, and spiritual generosity. If Jesus walked in the Light, then he spoke of seeing good in all around him. I should prefer to do the same best I can, and not attempt to condemn my good friends in this world by trademarking or patenting the way to salvation. We could all benefit much from seeing a bit more of the light in each other. Remember the old Coca Cola commercial where there are hundreds of people in the dark holding candles? "I'd like to teach the world a song, of perfect harmony...". When I think of that image, I also think of the Sunday school song, "This little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine...". Now, it has occurred to me that if we all have our own little light, life is always like the Coca Cola commercial. If I don't see the light in others, its my problem, not theirs. Here's for anything that opens more eyes and let's more light in, and neigh to any gusts that would seek to blow out any one candle. Peace, Darrin P.S. Doesn't mean people can't disagree. Does mean that my opinions don't have to make everyone else's wrong. If that happens, I've stopped growing, and I can't see the other candles.