Sisters and Brothers in Christ

I was skimming through Psyche and Matter by Marie-Louse von Franz when I came across this interesting quote, "…in the experiment suggested by the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox, ‘objects, even if they occupy regions of space very distant from one another, are not really separate.’" That certainly gave me pause to think – what, then, really separates us from one another if this paradox suggests that all physical matter is inherently one? Hmmm.

So I did a quick word study on the word that means separation in the religious business – sin. I found something that might be a clue. Of the many meanings that have attached themselves to this word over the centuries an ancient meaning from Hebrew is "to miss oneself, lose oneself, wander from the way."

How many times have you been right next to loved ones and felt miles away emotionally and mentally? How many times have you shuddered in wonder if you were indeed treading along the right way for you? How many times have you followed a course of behavior that led you far away from who you truly are and far away from those you love? These are all signs of a person who has fallen into the sin of missing oneself or losing oneself.

I have found myself to be prone to such painful paths whenever I "lose myself and wander from the way." Separation does not begin with another person it begins within me. Whenever I try to be more than the person that God called and created me to be then I begin to tread a perilous path.

So what is this mysterious "way" that makes everything better? In my journey of spiritual formation I have found it to be the Way of Love. Jesus points to that way via the great commandment he recalled from Torah: "You shall love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and love your neighbor as yourself."

Can you hear the ringing truth of the Hebrew meaning of sin? Unless I am at first home in myself and love myself then how can I even begin to follow this Way? From love of self flows love of neighbor and love of God.

The Way of Love is a broad avenue with many entrances. The last day of this month we Christians observe Ash Wednesday. That day marks the beginning of our forty day period of self-discipline (self-teaching). This is a time to do some inward searching for those who have wandered from the way or lost themselves. It is a time for honest acceptance and firm commitment.

Our Lenten discipline isn’t really intended to end after forty days, instead is meant to be a turning point that helps you and me return to the Way of Love and to the person God called and created you and me to be.

Joel t