Rachel Lynwood
Many of us no doubt have grown up in families where we have been influenced in one way or another – by organised ‘religions’ that exist in the world. This is not some new revelation – given that this is the way it has been throughout the ages, bringing us to where we are now in this life. Whether it has been Catholicism – or other strands of what the world recognises as Christianity, these lived experiences have tainted our understanding of the purity of living a truly religious way – in all its deep beauty and wisdom. One learns much from growing up in a family where there was a consistent influence of Catholicism and the organised assembly known as the Jehovah’s Witnesses. One of the earliest memories is standing in the Kingdom Hall at the age of 3 or 4 – knowing deep down that all that is happening around you, is not you, or who we all are in essence. The great learning that has come from growing up in lived contexts like the example given here – is the necessity of living a life that is deeply true. Where we allow a return to our natural religious way – which does not encompass any form of inequality, dogma, rules or subjugation.
No perfection is in the equation here – it is simply a choice to connect with who we truly are and all else can follow from there. The true religiosity of life is to embrace one’s development as an ongoing and integral part of our everyday lives – which naturally includes our relationship with ourselves and all others in the world. Relationships that are based on the foundational qualities of love, equality, respect and honesty – and a deep caring for oneself and others. | For how can an equal Son of God not bring that deep care and equality to our fellow brethren? It indeed is our innate way to live this day in and day out with our families, friends, colleagues and even those who we don’t ‘know’. Whether it be how we interact with colleagues in a meeting or how we speak to our family members; even how we speak to the person in the shop who serves us.
All of which starts with our relationship with God – who is all loving, and beholding of everyone in this world – never are any groups of people or species favoured over another group. God loves us All – pure and simple – equally and without judgement or condemnation of another. We have come into this life this time around to once again deepen our understanding and claiming of who we all truly are – which are equal Sons of God. We are not here to treat ourselves or others in ways that are harmful or ill-conceived in any way – that is not who we are. That is not to say that we are to ‘strive’ for some notion of ‘perfection’ and indeed – embracing our imperfections to bring a deeper understanding of ourselves and others – benefits All. All that is presented here is a foundational part of the Ageless Wisdom – a wisdom that equally resides within us All. A wisdom that is lived in an embodied way – which is a religious way, very tangible, real and worldly. This is The Way of The Livingness in its essence – practical, relevant and deep in its beauty, and all-encompassing exquisiteness.
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