“My song is Love Unknown” or rather the text thereof, originate from a poem written in 1664 by a Puritan Minister named Samuel Crossman. Crossman was born in 1623 and died February 4th 1683 at the age of 60. Crossman earned his Bachelors of Divinity at Pembroke College, University of Cambridge. He was known to have been sympathetic to the the Puritan cause which sought to rid the Church of England from some practices from the Roman Catholic Church. In 1661 Crossman attended the (confirm pronounce) > Savoy Conference which was tasked with the goal of updating the Book of Common Prayer. The desire to update the Book of Common prayer was aimed at rendering it for use by Puritans and Anglicans alike. History records that the conference failed and in 1662, after refusing an Oath to “The Act of Uniformity”, Crossman, as well as 2,000 others were expelled from the Church of England. This event came to be known as the “Great Ejection” of 1662. In 1664, during the period of his exile from the Church of England, Crossman wrote the poem “My song is Love Unknown”. The most commonly used tune for this poem is entitled “Love Unknown” written by John Ireland in 1925. John Ireland was born on the 13th of August 1879 and died June 12th 1962 at the age of 83. It is reported that Ireland composed this tune in 15 minutes on the back of a menu. This piece is so rich in its theological expression, that there are a plethora of concepts to be explored in the 3 short verses featured in this rendition of it. For more information on Love Champion or vocalist Michael Fries, please visit www.iamlovechampion.com or www.michaelfries.com. Thank you for joining me, not only in the Worship of God or the Love of Music, but in the pursuit of the boundless realizations that can come from Theological discourse.
My song is Love unknown my saviors love to me
The title of this piece, also featured as its first sentence is, to my opinion, the most beautiful expression of the entire poem. Following repeated readings of this sentence, two questions come to mind, namely “What is Love?” and “What is the unknown?”. To the diligent seeker of Truth, the onset of the journey begins with “the unknown”. “What is the unknown?”. This leads to the first fundamental questions of the philosophical journey. “I do not know that which I do not know.” When refined further we enter into the famous philosophical question, “What is it that I do not know?” This statement is the dawn and advent of a most powerful mood of the soul; this soul mood is known as Wonder. These concepts, while as old as thinking itself, find prominence in the man who is known as the Father of Western Philosophy; Socrates. Socrates regarded wonder as “the beginning of wisdom”. Going further with this, knowing the boundaries of your knowledge is within itself, the beginning of Wonder.
Socrates actually did not author any books of his own nor did he record his dialogues. The wisdom of Socrates was recorded for antiquity through the work of his pupil, Plato. In the book titled, Apology, we find the account of the Trial and Death of Socrates. In this text we find the quote “The only true wisdom is in knowing that you know nothing.” Socrates pioneered the practice of focusing not on what is known to you but rather what is UNKNOWN to you. What does it benefit a man if he only contemplates that which he already knows? The biographical details of the exploits of Socrates report his constant conflict with the established Greek school known as the Sophists. The most prominent Sophists (Gorgias, Protagoras… etc.), when questioned by Socrates, appeared to know nothing of topics they were considered to be experts in.
Let us compare the building of knowledge, whether spiritual or otherwise, with the creation of a new life. The birth of new life begins with the womb; the empty space through which the “new” is born into the world. If we allow no “space” for the Lord in our hearts, how can he reach us? We read in Hebrews 3: 15 “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” It is said that through Prayer, we speak to God and through meditation, God speaks to us. Throughout the various methodologies of meditation, we find the common practice of clearing the mind and embracing stillness, silence and the “empty space”, the womb of the soul. Meditation is akin to the statements of Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God.” While the womb is the genesis of new life, likewise the emptiness of the mind is the womb of the soul where new concepts are conceived.
The practice of knowing the limits of our knowledge propels us beyond former states of consciousness. We cannot conquer new territory unless we acknowledge the borders of our intellect. New territories are conquered and claimed through the power of Wonder and awe. Socrates, through the process of Socratic questioning, uses the process of dialogue to carve or refine “knowledge” from subjective beliefs to objective realities. Within each individual is a cournel of the divine built upon the spiritual substance of Objective Truth. In Friedrich Schiller’s poem “An die Freude” or “Ode of Joy” refers to the “beautiful spark of God” which contains the quality of “Reuniting that which custom has set apart”. When this spark is kindled, we find warmth of heart that generates the inclusive attitude towards all humanity wherein, as Schiller says, “All people become brothers”. In this state, no longer will we consider an “US VERSUS THEM” mentality known by writer Richard Rhor as the state of dualistic thinking. The opposite of dualistic thinking is known as Non-dualistic thinking. This method of thinking dissolves divisions and reintegrates into a unity of “oneness”.
The great philosopher Rene Descartes founded this spark of the divine on his famous statement “I think therefore I am”. Descartes achieved this most profound realization by questioning the entire body of his (what some may call) subjective beliefs. By considering all that he believed to be mere deceptions, he proceeded from a position of total skepticism into concrete objective truth. His reward for this was this affirmation; the self evident Truth upon which all other Truths could be built. This is likened to the phrase in Matthew 6:33 “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” The soul activity of Thinking arrives at its goal, namely, Truth, through the Spirit’s gift of Imagination and the applications of both Awe and Wonder. This gift of the spirit does not discriminate and avails itself to anyone who would employ it. When the seeker of wisdom pulls apart that which he considers to be KNOWN, everything falls apart and we are left with this spark of the divine and the rock upon which all else is built.
The concept of the “unknown” has interesting applications in “Confessions” by St. Augustine. In this work, St. Augustine proposes the wise question of “How can one seek something without knowing exactly what it is?” Where would one begin to seek that which is not known. At the offset, the unknown reveals itself in darkness. If we know nothing of the object of our search, how could we even begin to pursue it? To say that we know the path that leads to what we seek, in itself, implies some knowledge of it. Going further, St. Augustine questions, “How will we know that we have arrived at something all while we profess no knowledge of it?” There is a similar concept in passages from John 14, when speaking to his disciples, Jesus says “And whither I go ye know and the way ye know.” To which Thomas then replies, “Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?” To this, Jesus replies with one of his most celebrated statements. “I am the way, the truth, and the life” Thomas’ response to Jesus is very human indeed. It is so human that I am almost certain that a greater portion of humanity would have asked the very same question. The disciple known as the “Doubting Thomas” is very human indeed.
Though we may despair in searching for that which we don’t know, we may still enter into the unknown with certain spiritual tools. We still have have the tools of Faith, Hope and Love. Indeed it is so, that our venture into the unknown will also be accompanied by feelings of fear. Christ addresses this by saying “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye believe in God, believe also in me”. The aforementioned spark of the divine is that which is the divine in us. The “divine spark in every man” seeks the “divine man”. Christ goes before us always and we must follow. This spark, is Emannuel, translated as “God with us”. These spiritual tools are the aids through which courage can be summoned to venture into the unknown. Nietzsche describes how all great new things must first wear strange and terrifying masks. Likewise, the Islamic mystic Rumi states that “the cave which you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” In this light, the unknown is precisely where our potential joys dwell. In John 14 Christ says “Keep my Commandments and I will pray the Father and he will give you another comforter”. This comfort is the Holy Ghost which proceeds from the Father and the son; And comfort is precisely what we need when we expand beyond our comfort zones. We must summon courage derived from these spiritual aids that guide us through the FEAR of the unknown. The natural comfort zones we create for ourselves demand to be broken through. These ideals and the combination of them are likened to a lamp that illumines the way through the unknown. We have Faith to lead and protect us as we venture into the unknown. We have Hope that lifts us up on our ascent into the unknown. The hope of something higher provides the impulse to a higher level. Christ is our aid in the process of growth to higher levels of consciousness. Once again in John 14 Christ says “And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” The Christ goes before us and prepares a higher place for us. Then he returns to us as the Emmanuel “God with us” and receives us unto himself in a higher place. The only way he can receive us onto himself is if we receive him unto ourselves. Following this, we are one with him and we make our abode with him for all eternity.
Finally, we have Love, to lead from self into the unknown of the other; from selfishness to selflessness. Love is the force which unites, strives towards inclusiveness and brings together what even the strongest customs may set apart. Love is the longing within creation that drives towards its higher self. Trees growing on a cliff will orient themselves toward the source of their strength, the sun, the light of the world. Love paired with the infinite expanse of the “Love unknown” provides the womb of the infinite with limitless space for Love to abound. As it says in 1st Corinthians, that If I have all things but I do not have Love I am a resounding gong. Love transforms us from seeking our own fulfillment to the uplifting of others. It begins when material pursuits seem to fade and the pursuit of Love takes over. We begin to transform slowly from the pursuit of material possession over toward taking value in “heavenly treasures.” We see the example of this dilemma when a man tells Christ that he has obeyed every law, every observance of God’s commands and asks what else can be done to enter the kingdom. Christ lists several laws to abide by until finally he arrives at the last.
“If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.”
“But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6 20-21
So take a leap of faith into the unknown but not the uknown with but rather the unknown within. Ask yourself the following question “Which unknown is more vast? The unknown without or the unknown without. Let us take the advice of Christ and seek “heavenly treasures” that no rust currupts. Though the outside world make fail the inner will not. Step into
“Love to the Loveless shown that they might Lovely be.”
“For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you. Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.” Matthew 5:46
The Beatitudes – The Sermon on the Mount.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven
There is exceeding difficulty in responding to hate with love. On the journey from selfishness to selflessness this may be the more difficult prescription from the Christ. Often, there are situations in life which would be considered less than ideal. When there is manifold hatred and persecution of individuals, this is precisely the perfect opportunity to let the glory of God be manifest. In an environment of hatred, returning like for like will only fuel the fire. In many cases, it is believed that when one persecutes you, they are really unhappy with themselves. Responding to this with the Love of the Father is assuredly not expected. Alchemical knowledge and the prize of that craft, the philosopher’s stone, can supply the ability to transform spiritual substance. If we are persecuted, praying for the aggressor is not necessarily only for their benefit. In the Lord’s prayer we read “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Who does this forgiveness benefit? I always regarded the commandments and teachings of the Christ purely for his benefits and worship. These were laws to be followed in order that entrance into heaven may be achieved. However, I considered the possibility that this is not a law to achieve peace at the end of our lives but peace exactly in our souls and in the moment itself. When we forgive we release the burden that would otherwise punish us throughout the day.
Hebrews 11:1
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word (Logos) of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which to appear. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” Hebrews 11 is a statement to the call of Faith into the unknown. Abraham, Moses, Mary, Noah, Joseph and countless others went out into the unknown with faith as their guide. They were all commended by the Lord for their Faith. These individuals only saw the destination of their Faith and “welcomed them from a distance”
Truly truly faith calls us out of our comfort zone into the unknown. The great prophets, culminating with Christ himself all stepped out into foreign territory with only faith as their support. As is in 2 Corinthians 5:7 we hear “For we walk by faith and not by sight.” In 2 Corinthians 4:18 we hear the phrase that that which is known is not the prize of christ. There is a quote I like to which I know not who to give credit that states, regarding conversation, that if we only share our knowledge and words we do nothing other than repeat knowledge which we already know. The better situation is to listen through which we grow and learn. Again we return to the concept of putting other’s first and regarding ourselves and the lesser. In 2 Corinthians 4:18 we are instructed to “fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.” The seen is described as “temporary” while that which is “unseen is eternal”. As Christians, we “walk by faith and not by sight.”
The Lord, our god is an unfathomable mystery of unlimited epiphanies. Would it be pleasing if it were otherwise? In his house are “many mansions” which Manly P. Hall describes as a phenomenon of the diligent search for God. He describes these “many mansions” as spiritual rooms revealed in the rising of consciousness into higher worlds. Each new “room” entered is a new epiphany. Consider for a moment if the entire expanse of his love and wisdom were to be measured? Would it fulfill us if his totality were studied and known? For what else could we long for if this journey had a finite end? Truly, it is most fitting for us, that the Lord remains always a mystery. It is the quality of the unknown that amplifies the virtues of Love. Would we worship a God who could be placed into a box and stored away, never growing, never expanding and capping the infinite. The Love proceeding from the Lord as well as the Love directed towards the Lord in our worship of him are inexhaustible well springs of joy. Jesus reconciles all original commandments that are assuredly completed if the new commandments are observed.
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
This Love is as stated in the first stanza, unknown. Going into the unknown is truly the greatest sojourn we could ever partake in this brief life. This is the pearl for which man would give up the all simply to purchase it. This is the most difficult journey one can partake in; it is the long journey from selfishness to selflessness. Nietzsche says in Beyond Good and Evil “All great things must first wear terrifying and monstrous masks.” Joseph Campbell also states something similar in saying “The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” This is accomplished through the abandonment of the comfortable, known and familiar into something new. Unknown because this allows it to be a new revelation a new gift to be unwrapped with each step. What heights of Love what depths of peace, when fears are stiled when strivings cease.
This statement is indeed, a challenge. It is both our cross to bear and our call to heal and transform spiritual substances. It is the difficult call, to return hatred with Love. How could forgiveness, peace and Love exist without this transformation. Christ says “That which you do to the least of my brethren, you have done into me.” Christ also says “Love and pray for those who persecute you.” Our natural reaction is to return like for like. It is equally as natural to only treat those who love us well and hate those who would do otherwise. We are called not to only love those who Love us because “even sinners do that”. It is precisely the “Loveless” who most need to be shown Love. In the recitation of the Holy Rosary we speak “Lead all souls to heaven, especially those in most need of thy mercy.” Christ came not to cater to the religious elite but as he said, “I came to heal the sick.” Those whose material lives are so good (archons) are under the spell that they have no need of God. It is precisely the “loveless” who are in most need of Love. By his example, Christ communed with sinners. He was criticized for this and stated that he “came to heal the sick.”
Oh who am I, that for my sake, My Lord should take frail flesh and die.
The muslim mystic Rumi, wrote “That which you seek, is seeking you.” At the time when I first read this, I considered it a novel concept. However, when reviewing scripture I found it to be anything otherwise. It was with great joy that I welcomed this realization; that God, the almighty himself, would esteem me worthy of seeking. As the lyric says “Oh who am I?” that saved a wretch like me?” To the Lord, you are the one and only soul he seeks. I am the one lost lamb of the 99 and it is noted, that he leaves the 99 to find the one. God is not too busy to spend eternity focusing on you. He is fully capable of focusing only on you while simultaneously accomplish all else that he does. He even descends to the Earth from his heavenly domain and endures Death for the one; for you. The parable of the woman and the lost coin demonstrates this as well. Even if we were to not consider God at all in our lives, God has set aside a place for us and us alone. In our hidden, invisible inner life he dwells only with you. That he may abide with you forever.
“I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. “John 1 This speech of Christ was directed to the Disciples but yet the word used is “you”. There are some who have come closer to the meanings of words in the Lord’s Prayer. We recall that this prayer begins, in the manner that we know, with “Our Father, who art in heaven.” However, there are some who, in their more accurate translations state that the word used by Jesus is closer to the meaning of our word “My Daddy”. The implications of this are manifold. This new translation renders the prayer in a somewhat more personal and intimate way. This is the type of phrase a young child would say to their Father who they view in the ways of a child.
There is much to take away from this statement. To enter into the narrow gate, we must make ourselves small and humble. It does not say, “for our sake” but for “my sake”. I have always read the bible and the words of Christ as though they were speaking directly to me, not US or any group or sect to which I may belong, but directly to me. This is an entirely personal message. It should speak to the more intimate parts of your soul. There is a polarity in the relationship one has with God. There is self and there is God. One of the great truths in many mystic circles is the knowledge of self. We must learn to properly esteem ourselves in our relationship with God. As John the Baptist stated, I must decrease and he must increase. When we comprehend, deeper and deeper the vastness of God, we realize that we are a grain of sand and he is the beach. When we properly realize our relationship with the Lord, we realize that we are imperfect, sinners, and not worthy of the gifts of God. When we come to an appropriate position to the almighty we come to realize the concept of Grace. In the lyrics of Amazing Grace is the phrase “Amazing grace, that saved a wretch like me” The result of having this correct RELATIONSHIP with God, we come to a greater Awe and above all, Thankfulness for what he has done. By this Grace, we are blessed and because we are blessed by him, let us always honor and praise the name of the Lord and worship him in his Holy Temple.
He came from his blessed throne, salvation to bestow;
There is one concept to consider from the statement above. This concept extends the meaning of Christ as well as our appreciation of his sacrifice. Let us look at a few phrases within the Nicene creed and the Apostles creed. It reads as follows… “For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven”. Extending upon these words we read in the Apostles Creed that he was “crucified, died and was buried; he descended to the dead.” Essentially, Christ came from paradise (the highest, most blissful state of being) down to Earth (which is a great descent from heaven) then finally further down into the worst possible circumstance for the soul, namely, the depths of Hell itself. If we consider for a moment how difficult change is for us, we can grow to appreciate his sacrifice. He who knew not sin, came to dwell among the sinners. He who was God himself, subjucated his own will to that of the Father’s (much like his Mother, Mary who likewise submitted to the will of the Lord during her Annunciation. In our current state and throughout our earthly sojourn, we long to be in heaven and to have the struggles of earthly life behind us. Christ did the exact opposite of this. He left heaven and came to Earth purely out of the magnitude of his Love for you.
It would surely benefit us, as Christians, to consider and meditate on this idea at length. In our Earthly suffering we can consider that Christ’s longing for us must have been stronger than the the prices he paid and the pains he endured. As stated before, one could believe that this was for the salvation of all but it could be equally true that it was for us alone as individuals. Further in the text is the phrase that demonstrates this with the words “Who at my need his life did spend.” Philippians 2:5-8 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
This passage reminds me of similar mention in the Nicene Creed. “For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven… He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried.” When I consider these statements I call to mind the concept of how difficult it must have been, being one with the father, to descend to the Earth from his throne in heaven. Jesus left paradise to dwell with us in, as is said in the “Hail Holy Queen” prayer, a valley of tears. To save us who are “mourning and weeping” in said valley of tears in order to save “us banished children of Eve.” only that we “may be made worthy of the promises of christ.” As said further in the lyrics are “O who am I, that for my sake, my Lord should take frail flesh and die.” While being one with God, he is said to be both fully human and fully divine.” In various places throughout his ministry on Earth he reveals both of those qualities. Perhaps the most HUMAN moment of Christ’s life is seen in the events preceding his crucifixion. The passages from Matthew 26 record this moment in the following words..;
He “began to feel sorrow and distress. Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful even to death.Remain here and keep watch with me.” He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, “My Father,[e] if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.” The Apostles creed describes the events following his death in this world. “He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried.” The comes the most powerful statement “He descended into Hell. On the third day he rose from the dead.” Within the above, we may never be capable of understanding the journey of the Christ from Heaven to Hell then back through the ascension. With the most powerful of this world (and even sometimes within the humble) is the protection of their current status of life. It would seem that to relinquish even an ounce of our power in this life is met with vigorous resistance. Let us consider how distant of a polarity that both heaven and hell are spread over. Perhaps this is the most vast expanse in the known spiritual world. Who may bridge this most extensive gap and find a home in both the worst conceivable dwelling compared to the greatest. For “eye has not seen, nor has ear heard what God has ready for those who love him”. The opposite would be “eye has not seen nor has ear heard what the Devil has set aside for those who do not find God in their hearts.” The only force capable of bridging such a gap would be the refined and rarest power of Love itself. This love is a longing from one extreme to the other. The only person capable of such a Love is God himself through his son Jesus christ and the holy spirit which proceeds from them. The Lord does not hold this Love simply as a possession but embodies it in his identity. “God is Love”. It is his magic which unifies into one what custom as set apart. All good and all evil fall beneath his trail of roses.
Life is the most precious thing. The brevity of this life only magnifies that. We know each other on this terrestrial plane, and upon it grows the peopled garden. Each flower is nature’s laugh. The Father loves his children more than we can comprehend. These flowers live and die only to live again and the remembrances of them ferment like a fine wine. The way of the heart, to transform it from a cold stone into warmth of vibration. This vibration is s a result of the of the oscillation between heights of love and depths of peace that can only be butriced by the total truth in God, resulting in peace as well as the practice of Christ’s two most important commandments. Love one another and Love God with all your might. When we are in the presence of anyone, in this people garden we are in a state of constant love. When we are apart, we focus our attention onto God, who is always with us, and this secures for ourselves and constant state of Love in our hearts. The story of Christ is a recipe book for how to become the christ.
Sometimes they strew his way and his sweet praises sing; Resounding all the day Hosannas to their king. Then Crucify is all their breadth and for his death they thirst and cry.
It has been said that if we think we are free of sin, we only delude ourselves. As sinners we may both worship christ and avoid him at the same time. This hiporacy even soaked into the lives of the very disciples of Christ. We recall that St. Peter, who was called the rock (upon which I build my church) denied Christ THREE TIMES after following him and calling him his savior. Nietzsche had the concept of “Ubermensche” which translates to “Superman”. Hegel spoke of a similar concept which falls under his title of the “World Historical Individual”. Examples of these types of individuals could span from Napoleon, Socrates or Caesar. These individuals come in conflict with established norms of society. They contend with the accepted in order to introduce new alternatives of consciousness. When we look at Christ we see similarities in him that are shared throughout the history of these individuals. To me, one comparison which is similar in both their life and death, is Christ and Socrates. Socrates suffered a similar fate to the Christ and their stories are remarkably similar. The main similarity between Christ and Socrates is in the nature and cause of their death. Socrates, like Christ, was ultimately killed because he sought the truth at the expense of established schools, like the Sophists. Many translate the first words of Christ’s ministry as “Repent!” while still others say it was “Change!” . Though it may seem subtle, there are different connotations of each translation. Both Socrates and Christ were agents of change. They both conflicted with established powers (archons) who would kill before they ever relinquished an ounce of it. It would seem that the blood of these martyred individuals is what makes fertile the soil of change. Martin Luther King is his last speech, seeming to forsee his inevitable demise remarked that longevity has its place. Through their death they rise to something greater than they were in life. It may seem that it would be better for their lives to have been longer. Truly, their deaths were tragic loses for humanity however if we consider the possibility of this not happening, would the world be the same? It is said that all tragedy and misfortune in the world only seeks to reveal the Glory of God. It is the trials we face that make us greater and through them the glory of God and the power of the human soul is revealed to us; thereby making us all greater afterwards. The fall from Eden is to those of the Christian faith perhaps the sole cause of all suffering. Through this Death came into the world; obviously this is very tragic. However had Adam not taken the apple, n’ere would Mary become the heavenly Queen. Without Adam their is no Christ. Common suffering among individuals, while tragic, may forge stronger relationships among all suffering under it. Misery seeks company as it is said. Through the journey into the future, we find that we need each other less and less with technology fulfilling the need for others. There are two tragedies in the world, one is not getting what we want and the other is getting it.
As I studied more mystical, occult or esoteric writings, I came to feel the indwelling of the commandments. When I first considered them I percieved them to be rules regarding outward events. I monitored closely and observed the rules so that I would not transgress them. However, I did not monitor my inner life, my thoughts, my feelings etc. It seems to me that the inner life is secret and available only to our selves. It would seem we have carte blanche in this inner realm, to think or feel anything we want as long as it never passes over into the outer world where all may see. Of course I am not denouncing the value of guarding our actions but let us also be without blemish and impeccable in our thoughts and hearts. Find within the unity between inner and outer lives by pulling the law of the lord into our hearts. Primarily, I believe this above passage sheds light upon the duplicity of man due to the contrasting nature of inner and outer lives. Christ commands us not to pray in public for an outward reward. We are instructed, while praying to go to a secret place. The outward worship of Christ is entirely useless if not accompanied by a genuine inner life of awe and wonder for the almighty. But please do not be too hard on yourself. Even St. Peter denied christ in one breathe and worshiped him in another. We all will make similar mistakes. If we didn’t make mistakes we wouldn’t even need Christ. But because of our frail nature we yurn for him. He loved us and we are called to complete the cycle by returning unto God what is God’s in the never ending cycle of Love between creator and creation that marches onward into a glorious future of an limitless expansion of Love into Love Unknown.
Conclusion
To conclude, I would like to first thank you for joining me in the worship of God through contemplative thought and through the appreciation of Music. As Nietzsche says “Without music the world would be a mistake.” In my tenure at Christ Church Oyster Bay Episcopal Church I came to appreciate the vast wealth of beauty found within the 1982 Hymnal. Life, in many ways is similar to a snowball tumbling down a mountainside. During the descent of this snowball it picks up what it wants and grows in size until it reaches the end of its journey. I sincerely hope you have found something in this post worth taking with you on your journey. Through the mediums of writing, song and contemplation may we come to find new ways to worship the Lord. It offers the searching soul, another way to come to Worship and appreciate the Lord. Though poetry and music are great tools to contemplate and worship God, they are
Whatever the object of your Faith is directed towards, may we all not only reach the boundaries of our souls but exceed beyond it into the unknown. Take courage with you on the journey that when the boundaries are found we may expand to new horizons in the never ending pursuit of the almighty. Ask yourself, if I find this pearl, the highest treasure of boundless Love, ask yourself this.. “Who does this benefit?” Moses gave us Ten Commandments and Jesus refined this into two simple laws. First, Love the Lord with all your heart and soul. Second, Love Your neighbor as yourself. If we follow these commands diligently, we may one day find ourselves in a perpetual state of Love for others and when there aren’t others around, we will still be in the presence of God. This is the foundation the leads to realms of Love unknown. Seek ye these first and all of the promises of God will be added unto you. God Bless and Thank You for listening.
-Love Champion
June 17th 2020
