What is at the heart of existence

The dance of living

“Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!” — Luke 12.24, Thomas 36.

If such caring for you seems strange, then as in AA think of a Power greater that ourselves as we understand it — that this One is at the core of existence yet embraces our lives. And who is Jesus in this equation?

I believe Jesus' concern is how we live here. "The Christian is not a religious person, but a person, pure and simple, just as Jesus was a person," said Bonhoeffer, adding "I have come to appreciate the ‘worldliness’ of Christianity as never before." Do we seek inner peace and joy? Can we be compassionate to your own self as to those around us at home, in traffic, working, and playing. We learn to relate to those around us as "I-thou" rather than a marketplace "I-it."

Do you think that being Christian means believing things—beliefs, ideas, doctrines? Or is it how we relate to others? Is it being "a person pure and simple, just as Jesus was a person?" Is what we want religionless Christianity that Jung also wrote about?

I suggest our problem is self-centered selves, groups, nations, and churches. Let's get our bearings in life by learning from this One we can glimpse in the depths of our feelings, in others, in Jesus.

When tragedy strikes, some are triumphant survivors while others are embittered. Explore some qualities of life I learned from decades of working with people in tragedy and in joy and struggling with heart-breaking questions and problems from abortion to youth.

The heart of these thoughts is that those who speak out of their own tragedy and triumph often relate to others in a profoundly unique way. The caring that is at the heart of existence wants to embrace and support us.

As a pastor interacting with people, I grew in appreciating people's vital faith and actions. As a social worker, I found people have marvelous capabilities. Explore with me what I find in the Bible, in thinking, in experience, in history. I want to share the vast potential in each of us, and in us together. So, explore a "dance of living" that is far more profound than believing in a list of things you ought to believe.

Explore facets of the Dance of Living in the list to the left!

Thomas is the complete gospel found in 1947 in Egypt that is dated from as early as 50 CE or late as 100. It includes many saying found in Mark, Luke, and Matthew but often in a pithier form plus other sayings. It is translated into English and printed in The Nag Hammadi Library and The Five Gospels.