In the Depths, Christ Awaits

It is the days past the celebration of resurrection—so what are we to do now? Put away the Easter baskets while picking up the stray cellophane grass that escaped from the Easter Bunny?

Sure, we can clean up after Easter. But we are called to do more than scratch the surface here. The stones that were rolled back from the entrance of the murky tombs were rolled away for a reason, and it wasn’t for you and me to go back to sleep. Now is the time for the courageous step—God’s own work in progress progressing!

This step is beyond theology, doctrine, or dogma. This is the step of knowing and tasting the well of life that gushes up from deep within. Don’t be satisfied with merely tasting or sticking your toe in this water. Instead, boldly plunge in and seek the very source of the well. What awaits you in such depths?

In the outer world of theology, doctrine, dogma, politics, religion, economics — the splinters fly. So many ideas pulling apart the human family, so many invitations to sleepily stumble back into ever new yawning tombs. Yet these are the days of Resurrection, and Christ is ill content with listless slumber and alliances with mere ideas. Christ hungers for wakefulness from you and me and communion with you and me. In the depths Christ awaits.

The healing of our splintered world begins one resurrection at a time—yours and mine. As we successfully rise from whatever tombs hunt and haunt us, we grow more into the One whose religion is Love. We are God’s work in progress progressing.

But what does that risen person look like? Muhyi’ddin ibn al-‘Arabi offers this description:

My heart has become capable of every form:

it is a pasture for gazelles and a convent for Christian monks,

And a temple for idols and the pilgrim’s Ka’ba

and the tables of the Tora and the book of the Koran.

I follow the religion of Love: whatever way Love’s camels take

that is my religion and my faith.

Now is the time for the courageous step and the daring plunge. Now is the time to meet the Christ who floods your heart with Love. Now is the time of resurrection. Now is the time—there is no other.

Joel t