How do we confront the power of nonbeing? What do we do to put the things that put us down?
I have thought there are four things to consider. I wonder it this is helpful because when we are in the battle with nonbeing these answers may appear to be too easy.
First of all we have to confront the power of nonbeing. We have to see it for what it is and we have to own it. We have to face it. We have to realize how much a part of ourselves it is.
Secondly, we have to embrace it. Not only do we have to see what it is we have to see what our part has been in our having it. Much of the problems in our lives and a whole lot of what puts us down that seems to come from beyond us actually begins within us. We have to face it and embrace it.
Thirdly, we will want to grace it with God. No issue that is our issue is our's alone. We look for God's part of the problem and how God is involved in our finding a solution to it. God does not send us nonbeing but nonbeing is a part of being and God is the creator of being. We can grace what happens to us and bless it and put it into perspective.
Finally, we will be able to erase it. There will come a time when it no longer has power over us. It may take a whole lifetime before it happens but when it happens there is no liberation like it. We can erase it and we can be done with it.
Nonbeing has no power over us if we face it, if we embrace it, and if we grace it with God, and if we erase it. There is nothing, in nonbeing's power we ever have to be afflicted with; ever.
What do you think?
If you have thoughts on this write me at charlesschuster@fcfumc.net. If you are willing to have the readers of the blog see your thoughts click on the 'comments' box below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Charles Schuster
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1 comment:
I appreciate these thoughts, Rev. Schuster. I hope I am using these terms, Being and non-being, in the same context and way that you are! In any case, here is a thought:
It is powerful to contemplate the element you mention: "non-being is a part of being". Because it is, non-being is subject to the influence of Being. The question is for me, given any challenge or other elements beyond our control (and we ALL have them!), which force is stronger -- Being or non-being? I note that, when I allow myself to be in a "victim" state, to any degree, I retract the powerful force of Being, my own Being.
In such case, two things seem to occur: 1) non-being is given all the power in the situation (no wonder challenges can look overwhelming) and 2) non-being is forced to play both its OWN role AND that of Being. This is imbalanced and unworkable for both aspects.
Much like a petulant child whose distracting, perhaps disturbing, behavior is usually a masked shout-out for the comfort and relief that loving, capable parental governance and guidance provides, so also non-being, in order to move to a place of balance and fully creative resolve, requires the presence and power of Being -- our own, my own Being, made in the image and likeness of God.
Being may present itself in a number of ways: perhaps it gives utterly no attention or action to non-being (though it does not deny non-being's presence); or perhaps, like Jesus' expression when he cast out the moneychangers from the Temple, it appears in full, dynamic force. However it manifests, Being takes responsibility and plays its own full and right part, in whatever way is fitting.
An example of this occurred for me yesterday, actually. Running an on-line business, I depend on an Internet provider to supply me a connection to my customers. In the midst of a customer transaction, my Internet connection dissolved into a ten-hour coma. It took a dozen calls with the provider and two on-site appointments with technicians to finally fix it. I seemed to be feeling the effects of the problem much more acutely than my Internet provider did (after all, they had hundreds of me-types, all clambering for repairs at that time)!
I awoke from my self-inflicted, victim-esque, panic-and-pity-party ("I am bleeding income here!") to realize that I (my Being) needed to take my own (its own) responsibility in this situation. Instantly, a wave of thankfulness filled me -- grateful for the mountains of blessings I DO have, and moreover "just-cuz"! With that simple change of awareness and attitude, I of course realized I myself had a part to play in all this:
1) it was my idea to own an on-line business – susceptible, as it can be, to occasional Internet outages; 2) I was the one who chose this particular Internet provider (and they do a great job almost always; no down-time ever happens at a good time!); 3) in this, or any situation, come what may -- to the degree I choose -- I am the master, the parent of my own thoughts, feelings, and actions -- those earthly faculties of my own Being (at least, as long as I don't abandon them to the perils of non-Being).
Viktor Frankl must have discovered both the space and the connection between Being and non-being, while enduring brutal persecution in a Nazi concentration camp, where his outer life was totally controlled by others. He observed, "Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response < our expression of Being>. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
When the Power of Being is expressed by anyone, I opine, the force of non-being is brought that much more into balance and creative resolve. Expressing this Power of Being is no less than our primary job on earth, I further opine. I, for one, feel privileged to rise to the occasion, to the best of my ability -- a daunting task at times, but a worthy mission.
I look forward to sharing the message with you on Sunday.
PenDell Pittman
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