Brian’s Reflection: Thursday, Jan 14, 2010

Pale sunlight,
pale the wall.

Love moves away.
The light changes

I need more grace
than I thought.

Rumi (translated by Coleman Barks)


Ah Rumi. Such elegant poetic imagination. Such insight of the mind and spirit and imagination. But remember: we all could have this if we wanted to invite it into our lives.

“Grace” is a fascinating concept, isn’t it?! What is it? We think of it as “something” that comes from “out there”, from “God”. Like a vitamin supplement to our weakened human immune system.

I don’t think so, after all these decades of pondering. “Grace” is an integral aspect of being Human. It is the insight and energy that rises up for us when we are able voluntarily to let go of our earth-bound Ego and open our Being to who we actually Are. And what is that? A flame of the Universe manifest through the exquisite mystery of Flesh.

We human beings are – as the Biblical Pentecost story reveals – flames of God dancing in Time and Space.

Being Human, we consume the fuels of Life and come close to spluttering out. We are tempted to think – until we learn better - that replenishment will come from Without. No. It will come from Within, from where Jesus said the “Kingdom” lives. Walking our Path – usually a precisely defined one in terms of faithfulness – leads us to the Well of Fire.

“Grace” is like the nourishing sustenance that flows to us through the umbilical cord in the womb. Only now that “cord” connects the Universe to our hearts. We keep the channel open from our Center to our fingers, toes, genitals, skin, mind, senses. “Grace” bathes us in a liquid love. It illumines the pale wall, gives vibrancy to the Son-light. It revives Love.

We forget about so many things. It is the primary failure of being Human. Especially we forget about Grace.

Write that Word on your heart, on the inner retina. When “sleeping or awake”, seek it etched Within.

The Great Prayer is, “I need more Grace that I thought”.

Whisper it often.

Brian+