January 16, 2015

“So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons.” Genesis 3:6-7

“When the light of G*d’s truth begins to find its way through the mists of illusion and self-deception with which we have unconsciously surrounded ourselves, and when the image of G*d within us begins to return to itself, the false self which we inherited from Adam begins to experience the strange panic that Adam felt…when he heard the voice of the Lord G*d in the afternoon. We must cast away the “aprons of leaves” and the “garments of skins”…attachments to earthly things, and fixation on our own rigid determination to be someone other than our true selves.” Thomas Merton (1915 – 1968)
The New Man, “For All The Saints” volume I

Many people in this life surround themselves with things that they think will bring them comfort and peace. The attachments that society wants us to grasp so tightly are simply masks for what lies beneath – the essence of a people who are searching for meaning. Why did Eve step out of the “rules” set up by G*d? Because she had the free will to think, to dream, to want, to desire, and to choose. G*d gives you and I the same free will. What we surround ourselves with – or hide beneath say alot about who we trust – G*d, or our own determination. Thomas Merton was right – we must cast these things away so that we can find who we really are – “People of faith, and, Children of G*d”. This is what gives us value. All else is illusion and self-deception.

Pastor Dave