6.2 - Continually Created
I wanted to share two personal experiences before we delve back into John's Gospel. A friend who reads the blog recently commented on how the content has evolved. Initially, it focused more on grief, but now it is less about grief and more about life. She viewed this change as a sign of growth, and I agree.
Less Grief, More Life
Less grief, more life! I like that. I immediately envisioned a chef who discovered a new favorite spice, say Gochujang. In the beginning, it's all he can talk about. Every dish has a heavy dose of spice. As time passes, he learns that it's less about the taste of the spice and more about the dish's flavor. The spice never goes away, but it takes a step back and allows the food to be featured.
At Millie's funeral, before the family walked into the service, I prayed that we would not focus on life "without Millie" but life "because of Millie.” I can see now that it was way too early for such a prayer. We all needed the deep, dark days without Millie to experience the omnipresence of her absence. We needed to hurt, to cry, to suffer alone and together. Only later could we slowly shift, or zig-zag, into the "because of Millie" phase of life.
Three years later, we can see Millie's presence in the bright eyes of children undergoing cancer treatment in over 100 Cancer treatment centers - all due to the Mighty Millie Popsicle Project. Because of Millie, over 100,000 organic popsicles have been donated to create small moments of big joy for these precious children. Because of Millie, thousands of dollars have been used to fund research for more effective and less toxic treatment options. I am so proud of Millie's parents, Claire and Nick, who still hurt but have turned that hurt into hope for others in Millie’s name. And I'm thankful for the hundreds of donors who have made it all possible through the Mighty Millie Foundation.
Through the generosity of donors and volunteers, the God I've been searching for flows through the popsicles to the smiles of children undergoing treatment—less grief, more life.
Invisible and In Between
A few days ago, a friend and former colleague dropped by briefly while on his way to see another friend. During our conversation about mutual friends, I was amazed by the effort he has put into spending time with them. I thought, “There is the unseeable God I've been looking for - in the relationship - in that seemingly invisible space between two people when a friend shows up - to say without saying - I'm interested in you.”
“ We are not of independent substance; we exist only in relationship.”
In the last segment, we saw Jesus feeding the 5000 with food that seemingly came from heaven, echoing Moses and the miracle of manna in the desert. In this segment, we will see John continue to connect the dots between Moses and Jesus by telling his version of the "walking on water" miracle. This event undoubtedly reminded his readers of Moses and the parting of the Red Sea. But first…..
6:15 When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.“And If Selected, I Will Not Serve…”
Here, Jesus is viewing things in his consciousness, reading the signs, and responding accordingly. But, “Why wouldn't he want to be made king?" Who wouldn't want to have that power, right? Wasn’t this the plan? Not really. That would prevent them from learning Jesus’ lesson. If you buy that the feeding of the 5000 was at least in part about sharing, he had just shown them how to solve their problems among themselves through love for each other. Shifting their focus from one external source to another would have them soon competing for favors from the new King, not sharing from their soul’s abundance.
Hmmmm? Does John have a lesson in here for us? Are we looking for a change in external circumstances to ease internal anxiety? Would we like someone to be put in charge who would give us everything we need? Do we treat God (and Jesus) as some Santa Claus to whom we present our list? Would we rather God be a "spiritual Amazon" where we could place and receive our order in two days? John is saying, “The creator will not be made king! Or Santa Claus! Or a spiritual Amazon!” Remember, Jesus told the woman at the well, “The water that I will give will become (in you) a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” He would tell us, “Stop trying to drink from someone’s dripping faucet and allow the spring to gush up through you.” In other words, take responsibility for your problems and those within your community and allow the solutions to surface from within you.
The people were reacting out of their physical consciousness, Jesus, from his spiritual consciousness. He demonstrates that this requires reading the signs and removing oneself from the crowd to a place of solitude. What problem do I have that would best be solved first by silence? What problem am I trying to solve for someone else that would best be solved from their silence?
“All Aboard”
16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going.
This story raises more questions than answers for me.
For instance,
Why did only the disciples cross the sea? Was it in response to some advance plan?
Were they expecting Jesus to “catch up” with them by walking across the water?
Were they afraid, not because he was walking on water, but because they didn't know who it was? Jesus calms their fear by saying, "It is I.”
Had he done this before? Is that why he doesn't mention Peter's attempt at walking on water?
Were they expecting him? John says “he had not yet come to them.”
Were they so close to land that they were immediately at their destinations?
I'm unsure what John tries to convey in this story unless it highlights that Jesus needed his "alone time." Anyway…..
22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not gotten into the boat with his disciples but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 But some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
When one experiences the spiritual consciousness of another, it ignites a hunger for more.
All Creativity Comes From Within
25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” John may tell this story with unanswered questions to show the mystery and hunger it sparked in these followers. Again, the teacher causes his students to think. Jesus did not answer their initial question, “When did you get here?” or John thought the answer was immaterial. However, as you read Jesus’ response, remember that he is a compassionate teacher, not an argumentative rabbi, and gently guides them through the paradigm shift we discussed earlier.
Jesus recognizes that they are operating out of their physical consciousness but want to be like him, spirit-filled, for the bread involved. So, he teaches about spiritual consciousness with a response similar to the one he gave the woman at the well.
We must shift our focus from the external to the internal, from the problem/solution matrix to self-realization. Then, we will tap the "spring that gushes up,” the "bread that endures,” and continual creativity.
Life = Continual Creation
John wants to teach us the following points about the spiritual life:
Only someone who lives from the spirit can spark the hunger in another.
The first task of the spiritual life is to believe that it exists and that Jesus modeled how to live it.
The true bread from God, the spring that eternally gushes forth, is divine intelligence that appears in consciousness as thoughts and ideas, becomes fueled by creative energy, and is expressed through acts of love, grace, and truth.
This process of internal, continual creation enlivens one and, as it is lived out, enlivens the world. It is the NOW slice of eternal life.
Some further takeaways:
Take responsibility for your problems and seek the solution inside first. Allow others to do the same.
Regularly spend time in silence, acknowledging that there is a source beyond you who works through you.
God shows up most clearly in our efforts that benefit others.
