MM#21:

Ah, blogging. What is it again? I haven’t been at it for a while. Ok. Things to say.

The inspiration for today’s topic comes from “A Course In Miracles.” I continue to work with this material in my own ways, slowly but surely. Finished the tome once, now going through an app with the daily meditations from the Student Workbook section. As I feel called. Certainly isn’t daily as suggested… Ahem. But that’s ok.

Anyways, this one topic stumped me much more the first go around, but has resonated with me this time. Let me try to share my insights.

A World of Vengeance

Lesson 22 from the Student Workbook says: “What I see is a form of vengeance.”

It goes on to describe a situation in which we harbor “attack thoughts” and by doing so we create a vision of the world that is out to get us. And since our vision creates our reality, we then experience a world of vengeance. Therefore, we’d better be prepared to defend ourselves from attack and also to counterattack when called to. Or even preempt.

Does this make sense?

The first time I thought it was a bit far-fetched. I don’t hold attack thoughts, generally. I don’t see a world of vengeance.

But the more I thought about it, the more it hit me. In fact, attack thoughts, counter-attack thoughts, thoughts of defense, and thoughts of vengeance come up daily. And they’re all wrapped up in the same energy.

One example that occurred to me was simple and far from vengeful at first sight. If I run late to work, I get worried. I assume my bosses will be mad. So I begin to imagine what I will say to them to explain my tardiness. In a simple sense, this is vengeance. I perceive them as attacking me for being late, and I prepare my counterattack of what to tell them.

I do these things often. A driver cuts me off in traffic. What I would tell then if I could!. I deliver a package but it slips to the ground. What will I tell the customer if they ask me at the door? And God help me when dealing with my ex wife…

And you know what the funniest thing is? Most of these mental conversations, these prepared speeches to defend myself or lash out at someone… They never even happen! But I’m ready nonetheless.

Because sometimes they do happen. Sometimes people do yell and fight. Some more than others. Sometimes I do! These things happen just often enough to keep us all on edge.

I doubt I’m the only one here.

Is Our God Vengeful?

Why is it that we are all ready to defend against others?

Because we are expecting others to attack us.

But why are they ready to attack us?

Maybe because they, too, are expecting us to attack them?

And why is that?

Well, sometimes we do. Sometimes we lash out in anger at the person who cuts us off in line at the store. Why not? It’s right, after all, to defend your spot. “Hey, I was here first!”

We yell at our kids when they test our patience. They are under our roof after all. We make the rules. They must obey. Or else.

(I hate to admit it, but even a comedian making comebacks is a form of vengeance. Even as funny as they may be. Perhaps our appreciation of this type of humor says a lot about us as a species…)

And on and on it goes.

Where does all this come from? Why do we act this way? Why do we hit back when someone hits us?

Because we live in a world that teaches us we have to fend for ourselves; that others are out to get us; dog eat dog; survival of the fittest; an eye for an eye. As some would see it, if we all lived out an “eye for an eye” the whole world would be blind.

Or maybe it already is.

Do we have a God of vengeance? Do we have a God who has obliterated cities because they sinned? A God that created hell and damnation? A God that judges good deeds and bad, rewarding the good and punishing the bad?

Some people have that sort of God. Many do. Maybe even most. People are proud to be “God-fearing” after all. And why not? No one wants to be punished. Anyways, someone has to keep people in check from acting out in negative ways? Who better than God?

Well, I think this is only one way to view God. It’s a choice. It’s been passed down and accepted until there’s no question about it. That’s how God is. And that’s how the world is. Attack and be attacked. Do bad and be punished. It’s just. It’s fair. It’s the way.

But it doesn’t have to be.

A Peaceful, Joyful, Loving World

God. What a wonderful word that causes so much joy and hate and love and despair all in one. So many people struggle with it. Who or what is God? Does God exist? What does God do for me? Is my God the same as your God?

Well, my view has been clear throughout my blog. I’ve written many things about God. You can peruse other posts. And there will be more.

Suffice it to say my view is that God is everything and that everything is God. You cannot separate anything from that equation. You can call it a man or a woman or a fish or not real. But God is still God. You can’t change that. You can’t take the water out of the ocean. It wouldn’t be the ocean. And you can’t take God out of creation. It would be nothing. God literally is the creative source that powers the multiverse.

But what you can do is choose how to tap into that creative source power. Your view of God, your connection to God, says a lot about how you see the world.

See the world with a God of vengeance and you will see a vengeful world out to get you.

See the world with a God of love, and you will see a loving world ready to bless you.

It really is that easy. It only seems hard because you have practiced one view for so long. Whatever view it is you have. But you can choose anew. You do have to be consistent. Turn away from that which you do not wish to see and continue to turn to that which you want.

If you want to see a peaceful, joyful, loving world, then you should trust in a peaceful, joyful, loving God. A peaceful, joyful, loving creator will create a peaceful, joyful, loving world through your vision of it. (I must thank Sadhguru here for a lesson on creating a peaceful, joyful, loving world.)

It also means not lashing out at others in vengeance, not responding in vengeful ways. I know, easier said than done sometimes.

You may tell me that this will not work. You will still see pain and suffering and war. Perhaps. You cannot change the collective energy of humankind overnight with this idea. But you can start. Just because the marathon is long, doesn’t mean you don’t take the first step.

At least you can change your own daily world and the worlds of the lives that you touch. The people you meet, your family and friends, coworkers and customers. By seeing a loving world and acting in a loving way, you create this experience for yourself and everyone around you.

Be committed to recreating your vision of God and therefore your world. Do not see a God of vengeance, but a God of love, joy and peace. Isn’t that what we all want in the end, anyways?

 

Thank you for reading.

 

Please comment and share.

Blessings to all,

Matthew