The Bible, a Spiritual Gazing Ball

Gazing balls originated in 13th century Venice, Italy.  King Ludwig II of Bavaria, sometimes referred to as Mad King Ludwig, adorned his with lawn Gazing Balls. Thereafter, they became a fixture of European gardens and are associated with Victorian era English gardens in particular.  Today we still see them in yards and gardens all over the world and people still actually enjoy looking into them.

As one looks at a Gazing Ball it is possible to compare that process to our existence in the universe.  The Gazing Ball acts to not only show a reflection of us but, also the things that are around us.  The spherical reflecting surface of the ball creates dramatic distortion but objects around us are in the reflections we see.  We soon learn that changing our position changes the reflections that we see as well as the degree and nature of that distortion.  The time of day as well as weather, season and the entry and exit of various objects in the field of view provide an inexhaustible dynamic of change that is the appeal of the Gazing Ball!

I find it interesting that something that is essentially unchanging, the Gazing Ball itself, can be responsible for so much variety in views and inspiration.  Every time we look we see things differently.  Of course, the reason is that everything is changing, even us the observer!

The Holy Bible, particularly the essence of its message as with the Gazing Ball does not change either.  Each time we read or hear scripture and interpret the messages of The Bible it is much the same as the phenomenon of the Gazing Ball. Our experience in life has changed as we live and our minds and ability to understand has changed as well.  Again we have an inexhaustible set of interpretations and inspiration available to us. 

How many times have you read or heard a particular scripture repeated with a totally different impact on your thinking?  All of us will experience this because God’s word is written to provide a means to shape our thinking in response to His will.  The key to experiencing this Biblical Gazing Ball is to have accepted the Holy Spirit as that voice that helps us LISTEN.  Jesus, after His resurrection, sent The Holy Spirit to us to be our guide.

Use the Bible as a Gazing Ball!  Read it and LISTEN to the guidance that results.  Each time we go there our world, as well as we, will have changed providing new and fresh perspectives and experiences for Him to reflect on our consciousness.  

That, my fellow humans, is PROGRESS!   Don’t waste the opportunity!

YOU ARE THE CAMERA !

I recently received a message from a friend who had just invested in a new camera.  She was so excited that she had finally been able to get the camera that she had been dreaming about.  It had all the wonderful features that were going to allow her to take pictures like she had never been able to take before.

In the message was a picture of a small country church with a cemetery in front.

In her commentary she criticized the photo from the photographer’s perspective.  The lighting was not ideal although the depth of field was good.  She was afraid that she may be trespassing.  Sunlight was too bright and so forth.  The next part of the commentary was on the subject of what she was going to be able to do with this camera.  More lenses, filters and all of the features that would allow her to take perfect pictures.

It was at this point in reading this fantastic post that it occurred to me how similar her experience is to the way that we see ourselves and the opportunities that we are given in life.  That thought process was triggered by my simply wondering what church it was in the picture.  The grave sites in the picture were old and beautiful but, my mind went on to asking who was buried in those graves, what stories could their lives tell?  There were so many questions that I cannot list them all!

In essence we live our lives like this.  We get so excited about our camera, us!  We spend our lives trying to see everything that we can see?  Vacation planning!  New experiences!  Travel the world!  This is much like in her commentary, “How can we improve the lighting?”; “What is the best time of day to visit?”  In all of that excitement of being overwhelmed with our physical being and our ability to be in the world and interact with it, how much do we miss by not asking the right questions and waiting for the answers?  I am guilty of having pictures taken on vacations of places that I cannot tell you about!  I was there but cant remember much about it.....

Life is a similar process that tricks us all.  We can not begin to realize how short the time on earth is until we see the end.  It can happen as we get older or when we are confronted with a condition that establishes a definite end, as with a terminal illness.

As I continue to learn in my last days I am driven to share this message!  Learn to not only be excited about your ability to see and experience living but, ask the questions and #LISTEN for the answers.  What church is that?  What are the “Learning Histories” it has to tell?  Who are those people and what did their lives mean?  This concept applies to everything in the world and everyone that we meet.  Realize that there is a finite amount of time left, even if you are young and just getting started.

Yes, you have [YOU ARE] a great camera!  You can add all kinds of features to enable you to capture images of all kinds.   You can take it to the corners of the earth, and beyond.  Make sure that your perspective includes the question and answer aspect that completes the experience.  Never take a picture of a Church and not know its name and history!  Life is a “LearningWheel”  but, it is more than a fabulous camera. Ask and #LISTEN 

YOU ARE THE CAMERA!    Next SHARE your Learning!

"Shallow" and "Deep" Thinkers

Have you ever wondered about the terms "Shallow" and "Deep" thinkers?  We know that both types of people exist in the world.  Taking it to another level, I think it is important better understand why and how, even though sometimes at opposite ends of opinion, they each have a basis for having confidence in the right outcome for doing what they consider to be the right thing.

I find the visual image of a pond to be helpful in understanding this dynamic.

The picture is of a popular place in Florida called Blue Springs.  This is a clear water park that is fed by underground springs with cold clear water that results in one of the most interesting places I have visited. 

The waters of Blue Springs sit neatly in the midst of a cypress swamp and are laced with openings to underwater caves, some never having been fully explored.  There are signs on the tress near each cave listing the number of people that have died in that cave.  The stories are told are many about those who have died exploring those caves.  I see Blue Springs as an excellent metaphor for the world that we share.  When looking at human life on earth I see an interesting comparison between what I will call “the culture of blue springs” and people living in our world today. 

These two descriptions "Shallow" and "Deep" thinkers can be compared using the Blue Springs Florida example.

Shallow thinkers are cautions people.  They only get into the water to no more that waste deep, some even less.  Many times these people have no confidence of being able to swim and/or they find the water too cold.  Some even have fears about what is in the deeper water, fearing the large fish and manatees.  In this group you will find a lot of diversity in opinion, fears, and as you would expect accuracy of information.

It seems that most people start off as shallow tinkers.  Their thinking is shaped by what they see, hear and experience but, there is that sub-group that has the drive to learn.  They venture out.by learning to swim, learning to use SCUBA technology.  With these more advanced abilities they get to experience Blue Springs as “Deep Thinkers.”  They experience seeing the fish and caves firsthand and become sources of information to some of  the reluctant “shallow” thinkers. 

In this dichotomy of experience we run head on with the problems that have plagued the world since the beginning of history. 

• ·         How accurately can we observe and capture an experience? 
• ·         How accurately can we articulate or share our experience? 
• ·         How accurately can a listener or learners hear and comprehend others? 
• ·         And finally, how accurately can a learner convey their knowledge to others?

On top of these problems add the complicating factors of language, culture, age, context and receptivity we start to see the reasons why we pass on corporate knowledge so slowly. 

Note that mankind’s progress relies on corporate knowledge gained through knowledge and the history of man being passed on to aid our understanding of reality. Looking at a pond we can see an example of a world of diversity and at least partially get the idea that it is knowable.  By adding the human aspect and the diversity brought by that human aspect we can start to appreciate the differences in understanding and opinion of that reality.

Step back and replace the pond with God’s Cosmos.  Then bring in our human diversity.  In that vision we can appreciate the “Shallow” Vs “Deep” thinkers.  We can appreciate the diversity in abilities to comprehend, observe, understand, communicate and share our experiences.  Realize too that we each are on a life-long learning adventure, then add the limit of our lifetime that limits our opportunity to observe and share and you have the metaphor.

The only way to survive and progress is to live what you know!  You may learn more tomorrow but always live what you know.  Do not let the deep thinkers confuse you.  Jesus said it when he spoke of the faith of a child.

Remember this quote: Luke 18:16

But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

We are always children in life living that point in time of always being the oldest we have ever been and the youngest we will ever be again.  DO NOT TAKE YOUR OPINIONS TOO SERIOUSLY, THEY WILL IMPROVE!

Life is a “Learning Wheel!”  We must continually work toward perfecting how to use it!