The Glass Curtain.

The barrier between the First World and the rest of the world can be likened to a Glass Curtain.

You can see into the First World via the mass-media and the internet but you cannot enter.

This glass curtain contains a disproportionate share of the world's resources.  And it is supported by superior military strength.

Those in the towering glass skyscrapers rule the world.

But as we enter the Age of Aquarius this will begin to change.

Aquarius is about equality.
So the gap between the First World and the rest of the world will begin to close.  We have already seen this with China and India.

We can only hope that this will take place gradually so that we in the First World can adjust to less.

But if we dig in our heels and refuse to budge then change will come in sudden, shattering blows.

So be prepared to live with less.

You may even find that less is more.

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The Good Fairy.

Deep in the Enchanted Forest

lived the Good Fairy.

His name was Beneficent

and he lived in a little cottage

surrounded by flowers.

He spent his day

watering the flowers

and praying for

the inhabitants of

the City.

Many of the city-dwellers

thought he was a demon

and they warned their children

to stay away from him.

But others thought he was

an angel who was close to God

and they told their children

to pray in his name.

But Beneficent was not moved

by the opinions of others.

He prayed for the good

and the evil alike.

For Beneficent knew

that God does not judge us

He wishes the best for us

and always helps

no matter what.

So Beneficent's prayers

were often answered

and he lived in a blessed state of grace.


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Expectations.

In a world that is increasingly secular and atheist what idea of God is relevant?

Firstly it must be intelligible.
It must satisfy our intellect.

Secondly it must answer the questions.
The big questions about life, the universe, and everything.

Thirdly it must be real.
It must be something that we can experience.

We are trained from childhood to use our intellect.
We are encouraged to ask questions.

But purely scientific thinking leaves a gaping hole in our lives.

This hole is filled by God.

And what does God expect of us?

To treat those around us with loving kindness and mercy, to be honest and truthful, to act with justice, and to show gratitude and respect.

But most of all to love.

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Bedrock.

I had a dream in which I was in a huge cathedral full of worshipers of all kinds.

In the center of this cathedral was an excavation which was digging down into the rock below the floor.

On these rocks were beautiful carvings which seemed to me to be very old even though they were being carved as I watched.

My interpretation of this dream is that the ideas and dreams of Progressive Christianity are older than the doctrines of the Church as we know it.

The basic idea which all Progressive Christians seem to agree on is that the bedrock of Jesus teaching is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind; and to love your neighbor as yourself.

So the edifice of Progressive Christianity is being established with a cornerstone of Love.

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Free.

In his book God is not a Christian Desmond Tutu says that once a people has decided that they will become free, then nothing, absolutely nothing, in the world will stop them.

Gay people have decided that they will be free.

And nothing, not any setback, not any hateful placard, not any adverse court decision, not any hell-fire preacher will stop them.

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Contradictions.

When confronted with a contradiction like the one over gays and lesbians in the Church - i.e. passages in the Bible which seem harsh and violent conflicting with our understanding of Jesus' sympathy and forgiveness - we would do well to pray.

Having prayed every day for 25 years since the beginning of the AIDS crisis I now realize that it is not God that is rejecting us but His servants - those who have hardened their hearts out of fear.

I  have come to believe that where there is a conflict between the law and the heart preference must be given to the heart.

Ask yourself, "What does my heart say?"

God is not a rule maker who rewards and punishes us according to our behavior.

God is Love.

And he dwells in our hearts.

So we have triumphed when our love is greater than our fear.

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Jesus' Tears.

When the AIDS crisis first struck the gay community my first reaction was to pray.

I thought that what was needed was the care and sympathy of Jesus.

But his Church had hardened their hearts against us, perhaps out of fear, and most Christians abandoned us.

There was, and still is, however, an element within the Church of Jesus who began to question the legalistic Phariseeism into which the Church had fallen.

The Jesus Seminar and John Shelby Spong laid the foundations of what is now Progressive Christianity.
It is notable that almost 100% of Progressive Christians support acceptance of gays and lesbians in Jesus' Church.

I continue to pray in the hope that the tears of Jesus will trickle down and melt the hearts of his followers until gays and lesbians are free of the persecution and violence that his Church has inspired.

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