As You

The quest for the meaning of life is fraught with the myopic preponderance of self. “What am I here for?” Understandably, it is difficult to remove our self from the matter of living when purpose seems to be the result of our actions. However, what if life is not, and never has been, about you? What if there is no “you” in the first place, but a “you” in maybe the fifth place, the place of grace? Consider the following:

“ I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” Gal 2:20

Paul recognized a deep truth about his position and purpose in life. We seem to have lost this truth as we navigate throughout the world. But some might ask, “What truth? I know this verse and confess it frequently.” The truth is not in the saying of the verse or even knowing the location of the verse. The truth is in residing with the knowledge that Christ is living as you.

Tradition has relegated the role of Christ to just a function and title of Jesus of Nazareth. In his book, The Universal Christ, Fr. Richard Rohr makes the following distinction:

“Christ is God, and Jesus is the Christ’s historical manifestation in time. Jesus is a Third Someone, not just God and not just man, but God and human together.”

Paul recognized how Christ is far more inclusive of the entirety of creation than to be housed in the singular manifestation of Jesus. He would claim that Christ in you is the hope of glory. Not in the far-off future but in the here and now. He would also claim that in Him we live, breath and have our being. This is a 24/7 statement of utter dependence. Do you live like this?

God is all knowing, correct? Yet, how often do we assume that only we have the answers? Even when we search for the meaning of life it falls heavily upon our shoulders to carry the burden of discovery. Rarely, if ever, do we relegate our quest to the One who knows for certain. We’ve exalted our “self” into an idol we worship more than the One who created the universe we stand in.

Jesus eloquently depicted this concept in the passage about the vine and the branch. Almost everyone knows this passage and, regrettably, the emphasis in most teachings seems to be placed in the production of fruit. This is not what the message is about since fruit production is simply the effect of being in the vine. Jesus claims that if you are not in the vine then you are as a branch which gets casts into the fire. This is not a reference for to going to hell as many have been led to believe but merely the stark reality where having “self” as an idol which is a lost cause that no one else will appreciate – even at your demise.

Being in the vine, being in Christ, holds a life force of untold riches with naturally producing divine results. The fruit never asks the vine “what is my purpose,” simply because it is the effect of the life within the plant. The branch never asks the vine “what is my purpose,” because the branch is an extension of, and at one with, the vine. This explains the comments which Jesus made of, “My Father and I are one,” and “The Son can do nothing of his own but only what he sees the Father doing.”

God is ever present, correct? That is up until the point we feel that He has left us. But He has promised that he will never leave us or forsake us. If Christ is in you, how can God ever leave? Certainly, we have read how Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” and have come to believe in some way if Jesus felt this separation then it must be true for us too.

Wrong! Once again we have elevated our “self” idol above the all-knowing God who is ever present. David was pretty clear on this matter in his song when he declared how there is not a place where we can go, either in the heights or depths of this world, or our mind, where God is not already there. If you’re there, so is God, as you.

“Love the Lord God with all your heart, soul, mind and body.” This, Jesus declared, is the first commandment. There isn’t a spot of your being which isn’t covered in this commandment to love, and yet, we find it so difficult to do simply because we can’t “grab a hold of” an invisible God. Consider the second commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” There is something, or someone, you can grab a hold of! Yet, Paul will tell us how if we say we love God but don’t love our neighbor, we are liars.

In case you missed it, allow me to make the connection. My entire premise for this writing has been God manifesting as you. If He has done this as you, He has done it as your neighbor too, since He is no respecter of person. After all, God is everywhere, even in your neighbor. So, loving your neighbor is loving God, which according to the first commandment, you should be doing with all you heart, soul, mind and body. But you may say you don’t like your neighbor. Your choice is simple then: allow Paul to call you a liar so you can hold onto your “self” idol or do what Jesus said and love your enemy. They are both looking for the same end result – love God.

I recognize what I have stated here is difficult for a number of people. For some the thought of loving themselves is impossible. The variety of reasons go beyond the space I have here, but in a nutshell, it comes down to not believing yourself to be worthy of love. This too is an exaltation of the “self” idol. It might not appear like it, however, whenever we raise a standard which places demands upon our performance which can never be achieved, we lose sight of the fact that it is our creation, not God’s, which is holding us in bondage.

Furthermore, we have been trained to keep God up there and out there for so long that even the Hubble telescope is looking for Him. Yet we’ve missed the declaration of Jesus telling us that the kingdom of God is within us. A kingdom only exists where a king resides. Before you think that I am declaring you, me, or anyone else to be GOD, forget it. Our meat sack of a body is merely the earthen vessel which transports the divine flame of all creation. It is a vessel uniquely designed to house and transport the vastness of a Creator who, as you, is exploring and enjoying the interaction of the life of His creation.

So then, if you are looking for the meaning of life, try for a moment to consider that the meaning of life resides within you and is flowing out of your already. Consider that this activity is also happening to the people around you across the globe. Take a moment to connect within where the kingdom resides and ask how all this works and what is your role in Its purpose. Contemplate on what God, as you, has to offer in this realm and ask how you’re to accomplish this. Continue doing this until you experience the rushing of a divine spark burst into a loving flame which consumes you. Then…