One of the most challenging aspects of life is maintaining a position against an unethical attitude - like discrimination against gay marriage - yet at the same time holding a non-dualist view, which understands that the Divine Presence indwells ALL of reality, including those who hold the position we oppose. Accordingly, I like to envision that when a person practices this sort of discrimination, it is as though God is STILL SLEEPING within them, at least as regards this particular issue.
This makes sense from a Process Theology perspective, which has a dipolar view of God. Here, one aspect (the primordial nature of God) is boundlessly and infinitely perfect, thereby serving as a lure that is effective in awakening human seekers from their spiritual sleep and prodding them on to deeper growth. The other aspect (the consequent nature of God) is always evolving, for it is that part of God that WE are meant to embody. Here, whenever we persist in remaining unevolved in our thinking, we can say that GOD in his consequent nature is still asleep within us. Our task as spiritual guides then is to help awaken the sleeping God present within those who still practice discrimination.
However, if we hold this sort of view, it is important to realize that those whose position we oppose - in this case, those who discriminate against gay marriage - are ALSO able to see those places WITHIN OURSELVES where God is still sleeping. In addition, it is just as important to realize that future generations will discover the fact that ALL of us living in the current age are discriminatory in one way or another. May we all retain the grace to open to the Divine present within ALL of reality to ever greater degrees.
Photos: Sunrise at the Snowy Range, Medicine Bow National Forest, WY; August 24, 2014
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