Sometimes we are tempted to think that the human species is a scourge upon the Earth, especially because of the environmental devastation we've foisted on the planet. However, we can recover our bearings if we remember that our capacity to stand in awe and wonder at Earth's majesty and beauty is a major element of our calling as a species. Indeed, we are the means through which the Divine knows Its, His and Her own magnificence, in and through our appreciation and our art.
Many in our time think that only INDIVIDUALS - and perhaps collections of individuals - exist as the ultimate reality. As a culture, we've forgotten that the true Ultimate Reality is a UNIVERSAL presence who permeates all of life, in both its God and Goddess forms. As theologian Paul Tillich reminds us, we are all afflicted with the philosophy of Nominalism: the belief that "universals" - like the Divine, Beauty and humanity - exist "in name only." Even God-and-Goddess are conceived here as mere individuals, rather than as a universal Presence that saturates and permeates all thinkg, making them all holy.
This day, may we begin to recover a realization that when we appreciate
the beauty of a thing, it is a UNIVERSAL DIVINE PRESENCE in us - and
within all things - Who is appreciating Itself/Himself/Herself THROUGH
us!
Photos: Various beautiful scenes from this past week; Larimer County, CO, January 7-9, 2015
Photos: Various beautiful scenes from this past week; Larimer County, CO, January 7-9, 2015
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