The Tower of Babel story teaches some interesting lessons. Humankind
was of a single spoken language but they did not believe in God as The
Father. In fact they decided to challenge God so they came together on
the plain of Shinar and began
constructing a great city, a testament to man’s, not God’s greatness. At
the heart of the city was the tower. This tower was constructed of
“bricks like stone” for it was being built not only to last, but to
reach Heaven itself. God, in His infinite wisdom chose to instruct
rather than destroy, so He reached down and
scrambled their language, making it impossible for them to continue
working together, so they scattered to the four winds leaving the tower
and great city
unfinished. Hubris aside, what else does this lesson teach?
Consider the moments throughout history when men have come together in
secular (though very often wrapping themselves in God) common cause. The
resulting purges, revolutions, crusades, jihads, wars and persecutions
led to, arguably, more death and destruction than all “natural”
disasters combined. The argument can be made that many of these
things happened to stop or address a greater evil, that if arms were not
taken up a greater injustice would have taken place, but I will leave that determination in God's hands.
Even so, clearly man has
been employing the same secular answers (though often laying them at
God’s feet) and reaping the same results since the days of Shinar. War
has yet to stamp out war; Persecution leading only to new generations of
persecutors and victims; Prejudice, of all stripes, teaching another
generation to prejudge, to marginalize.
We cannot get sick enough to
cure one person. No amount of hate will ever create love or
understanding. We cannot get poor enough (materially) to help those in
need.
Living on the Spiritual Basis, speaking the language of the heart, we
take a different tack. Today we choose to live on the basis of trusting
and relying on God. To be clear: Does this mean we bury our heads
in the sand, oblivious to this world’s realities? To leave our homes
unlocked, our children unprotected, offering our neck to any who would
threaten us? Without equivocation, no. Continue to protect and stand for
those who are incapable of protecting themselves, install sound locks on
your doors, stay informed and involved in the issues of the secular
world that interest you, but remembering the rain falls on the just and the unjust equally. Living on
the Spiritual Basis has nothing to do with a Polly Anna approach to
living; in fact, it is the opposite. It is not the way of weakness, but
is in fact the only true path of strength. The Great Carpenter said
the meek shall inherit the Earth, being meek before God is to honor
Our Father, it does not mean that we become servile or scrapping.
Living on the Spiritual Basis, standing in the light, the world needs
what you have to offer, in truth Practicing the Presence of God demands
it of us.
The truth will set you free. Wear your faith as a loose
garment, but wear it all your days, demonstrating it in all your ways,
the Adversary, fear, be damned.
©Vincent Lee Jones Living In Spirit All Rights Reserved
The Secret, Wayne Dyer,
ACIM, Serenity, Enlightenment, Zen, Emmet Fox, How To Be Happy, Golden Key,
Addicts Today, Chopra, Jesus, Healing Path Recovery, Einstein, Marianne
Williamson, Sayeh Beheshti, AKUA