I can’t seem to let go of some possible disagreement about what our relationship with the material world should be.
Don't let go of it! I'd much rather you disagree with me on something and come up with a way of looking at things that works for you.
I am wondering if it would be better and more honoring to God’s creativity to trust the constant “stream of life” sent forth from God, while fully living in the material world where he has put us.
Regarding this specific issue, the truth is I'm not always sure what I think, and I often find that I hold contradictory opinions. In fact the more I examine myself, the more I discover that-- within a larger framework that's been mostly fixed since I was very young-- a lot of my "opinions" change with the seasons. If it's July 4th and I'm relaxing in the (inflatable) pool in our back yard with a bottle of homebrew in my hand, I find I'm very pleased with the stream of life sent forth from the Ineffable One, and my focus is on material things. But when it's January 4th and I'm waking up in the darkness and starting the car in the freezing cold, my attention turns away from the outer world, and toward inner and higher things. I think this is how it's supposed to be, too, as it echoes the cycle of Fasts and Feasts handed down by the older Christian traditions.
Re: Living in the material world
Date: 2022-09-20 06:37 pm (UTC)I am wondering if it would be better and more honoring to God’s creativity to trust the constant “stream of life” sent forth from God, while fully living in the material world where he has put us.
Regarding this specific issue, the truth is I'm not always sure what I think, and I often find that I hold contradictory opinions. In fact the more I examine myself, the more I discover that-- within a larger framework that's been mostly fixed since I was very young-- a lot of my "opinions" change with the seasons. If it's July 4th and I'm relaxing in the (inflatable) pool in our back yard with a bottle of homebrew in my hand, I find I'm very pleased with the stream of life sent forth from the Ineffable One, and my focus is on material things. But when it's January 4th and I'm waking up in the darkness and starting the car in the freezing cold, my attention turns away from the outer world, and toward inner and higher things. I think this is how it's supposed to be, too, as it echoes the cycle of Fasts and Feasts handed down by the older Christian traditions.