Under The Olive Tree

I am going to start posting things here pretty regularly. The main obstacle for me is just finding out how to do so, and then how to manage this site. I have not kept up with technologies very well – and when they are intimidating and I am tired, then I just leave it for later. Later in this case has now turned into a couple of years.

We have been staying very busy over the last several months – but no matter what you do every day – you usually have some time to interact with those around you. If you are in a fairly static situation and you don’t get out much, then this might be limited to the people you work with every day – and cyberspace.

Cyberspace is an easy step from the “reality” of our daily lives – since it is no more shrouded then trying to figure out what is going on with “real” people around you – especially for those who are alone – or that have a limited extended family. If you have taken the step to move your relationships to cyberspace – be sure you don’t let all of them move there – or you are in trouble.

In the last several months we have had a few really focused encounters with people, usually perfect strangers – the kind of thing that I would call a martyr moment. Jesus said that “wherever two or more of you are gathered together, there am I in the midst” – but my experience is that just having people in the same space and time does not translate into having a mystical experience – a martyr moment.

Most of us wouldn’t call ourselves mystics – but that connection with the spiritual is just that – mysticism.

We call it witnessing – and perhaps that is because both of you, or all three of you, or whatever number of you are involved get to witness a connection with the spiritual world and the power of love – it doesn’t matter if you are the one who started the conversation, or if you are the one who knows the most about spiritual things – what matters is that you all experience the presence of Jesus and His loving power and grace. If you don’t, then you are not sharing Jesus.

I had an interesting experience.

We were staying at a State Park campground, and there were four construction workers camped out in the site next to ours. I walked over and introduced myself, and since they were relaxing, I suggested that I get my guitar and play a while – just for some practice and for their free listening. This opened the door for some pretty interesting discussions that spanned politics to religion.

One of the men, Joe, was probably the most articulate and well read person I have talked to in ages. I asked him if he had ever read the Gospels. He answered that he hadn’t read the Bible, because it “didn’t read like other books” – and was polluted by the religious right who used it as a mandate for things he didn’t agree with.

It highlighted to me a couple things which I shared with Joe. If you were in politics, and you wanted a mandate with the people, what greater source of authority for your actions could you claim than the Bible. However, just because you claim it as your authority doesn’t mean you deserve to do so, and doesn’t even necessarily mean that you yourself have read it. It reminds me of the joke about the Senators and The Lord’s Prayer. If you don’t know it – ask and I’ll post something on it.

Then I pointed out to Joe that I hadn’t asked if he had read the Bible – I asked if he had read the Gospels. He said he hadn’t. “Joe, here is a volume of literature that has survived the worst opposition of any volumes we know – and has been the source of inspiration for countless works of art, changed governments, launched Crusades – why would someone as learned as you have not read it. How old are you?” – Joe replied , “52″. “Joe, you are old enough to understand the Gospels for yourself – just read them with an open mind and see what they say.”

Too many people are walking in darkness – literally stumbling down the path with no light to guide them.

Martyr moments are when you and those around you make a connection – that when you turn from that encounter and go your way – you are not the same. You have been influenced by the hand of the Divine – your life has been touched with light, or knowledge, or power – and you all turn from the encounter changed – you witness something beyond yourselves – and each of you, no matter what their viewpoint or faith or persuasion is – must deal with those things glimpsed when Jesus stood among you and revealed things beyond the veil.