  Spiritual
This week: The Spiritual Power of Parables Edited by: Sophy New Year  
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Hi, I'm Sophy New Year ~ your editor for this edition of the Spiritual Newsletter.
The Rev. Scotty McLennan, author of the book Finding Your Religion, compares humanity's innate need for spiritual searching to climbing a mountain. In his view, we are all endeavoring to climb the same figurative mountain in our search for the divine, we just may take different ways to get there. In other words, there is one "God," but many paths. I honor whatever path or paths you have chosen to climb that mountain in your quest for the Sacred.  |
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The Power of Parable
Storytelling reveals meaning without committing
the error of defining it." Hannah Arendt
Stories and parables have been part of the history of humanity ever since we were first able to speak and communicate with each other. In fact, even before the first language was written down, stories were shared orally from generation to generation, tribe to tribe, in order to maintain the history of the people and their perceptions of and reactions to the world around them (among other functions).
While there is neither the time or space to go into the entire history of story and storytelling here, it is interesting to note (for the purposes of a Spiritual Newsletter) that some of the earliest stories told by ancient peoples were "creation stories." These stories were their attempt at explaining how they, and the rest of the natural world, came into being. Other stories involved how they perceived themselves in relationship to the rest of creation, in terms of animals, trees, and, of course, "gods," as they understood them at the time. So it appears that from the very beginning of "story," there was a spiritual aspect to them.
As spirituality and religion developed, story became an integral part of their history and practice. All religions have "story" as part of their history and theology, and stories were (and remain) powerful tools for interpreting and understanding our faith journey, as they help explain and "bring down to earth" religious and spiritual concepts that might not always be so easy to grasp. Like Aesop's fables, people didn't worry whether or not a story was factual (that it really happened or not). Rather they were most connected to the truth or moral of the story. In other words, a story didn't have to be factual in order for it to be considered "true."
For instance, in the Hindu tradition, there is a well-known story about Lord Krishna when he was a cowherd. As the story goes, every night he invited the milkmaids to dance with him in the forest, and they would come and dance...
The night is dark, the fire in their midst roars and crackles, the beat of the music gets ever faster – the girls dance and dance and dance with their sweet lord, who has made himself so abundant as to be in the arms of each and every girl. But the moment the girls become possessive, the moment each one imagines that Krishna is her partner alone, he vanishes.
What a wonderful story that expresses that we cannot own or possess "god," a universal truth regardless of one's religious background. And here is a great one about "attachment" from the Buddhist tradition:
Once upon a time, there were two monks who went on a pilgrimage across the country together. One day, they came to a river bank and saw a beautiful girl who was unable to cross the river. Seeing her difficulty, the elder monk volunteered to carry her across the river on his back while the younger one looked on in consternation.
When the sun went down, the monks came upon a dilapidated shack and decided to stay there for the night. The elder monk quickly fell asleep while the younger one twisted around, unable to calm his mind. Finally, he woke up the elder monk and reprimanded him for what happened during the day, "As monks, we are supposed to keep away from women. I am really ashamed and troubled by what you did today!"
The elder monk looked at his friend and a smile broke up on his face, "Oh, so that has been bothering you! Brother, I have left the girl behind by the river bank, why are you still carrying her around?"
Parable and story are also an integral part of the Judeo/Christian traditions. "Midrash" is a powerful tool from Judaism, which Rabbi Marc Gellman calls "stories about stories in the Bible," and were a helpful way of sorting through the many layers and interpretations of a story. And of course Jesus often told stories (parables) to explain to his followers what God and the kingdom were meant to be like. He would often begin them with, "the kingdom of God is like ..." and then tell them a story that would bring the truth he was sharing closer to home for his listeners. He told short parables (like the Mustard Seed) and longer ones (the Prodigal Son), attempting to bring a spiritual truth closer to home, and make it easier to understand. Like midrash stories, his parables often were multi-layered and could have more than one meaning.
Author Karen Armstrong asserts that in the pre-modern world, humans arrived at their understandings of truth in two ways –- through mythos and logos, myth and reason. In their spiritual quest, it was the mythos that gave them meaning, while logos gave them logic or reason –- and for the pre-moderns, leading a meaningful life was based on finding a way to balance the two. It was never a choice between one or the other, but rather a thoughtful blending of both kinds of wisdom. Somehow that balance got lost as humanity moved into the modern age, where logic and reason began to be valued over and above myth and story, which began to be dismissed more and more as untrue, and resulted in a loss of our sense of transcendence and wonder.
Perhaps our post-modern souls would be better off if we could rediscover that balance between logic and myth, reclaiming the religious and spiritual stories of our heritage with 21st century heart as well as minds, and creating some new stories of our own. The human story itself is not over, which means there are many more stories for us to share. As writers, perhaps we can help reclaim the balance we lost and become the keepers and tellers of our modern story.
Until next time! Sophy New Year |
Below you'll find some recent offerings from other WDC members. Don't forget to leave a review and rating if you read the item.
First a few from some newbies to check out:
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This poem was written in the form of a Pantoum! I really enjoyed the challenge.
#1943981 by gogreeneco  |
And a few more from other members:
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#1941174 by Not Available. |
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#1940325 by Not Available. |
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Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
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Now for some comments about my last newsletter "Spiritual Newsletter (June 26, 2013)" about sacred writings:
From ANN Counselor, Lesbian & Happy
I was just writing a true story, | | | Invalid Item
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about a child's faith and prayer, then here's your wonderful Newsletter. I always read the Spiritual newsletter first. It always inspires me, gives me joy and encourages me an so many ways. Thank you once again for today's powerful truth. ANN
Thank you so much for your kind words, and for sharing your story.
      
From embe
Hello Sophy,
Thank you for this inspiring newsletter, that has prompted me to share my religious poem as follows.
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Thank you! 
From Quick-Quill 
Sophy,While agree that there are many texts printed that encourage and inspire us. I do belive they are directed by God's spirit. Songs, poems, etc. I do however, believe the Bible is the Inspired word of God. I trust the writers and their direct connection as Disciples of Jesus. I do not always trust the writer as I do those whose writings were collected to become the Bible.
Thanks for sharing your perspective. I can't imagine why God's inspiration would have stopped 1600 years ago and have nothing equally important to share with us, but I respect your belief.
From Pita
This was a great newsletter, Soph.
Frankly, I find all of Book of Hours, by RM Rilke, to be the most sacred thing I have ever read.
And thanks for putting a link to my poem. You are the only one that actually got its a love poem to God.
Love Rilke! And you are welcome.
From Mark Allen Mc Lemore
What a good point about God not being silent for 1600 years, because when we take a look around; we can see his adversary has been very loud these past few hundred years.
Great NL.
Adversary? Hmmm. Think I'll keep my yap shut on this one. 
From jopesiitimi
First of all, Lovely write up. I had to read this article about three times before I 'FULLY' grasp your point, although the first time I read it, I was open mouthed for about two minutes straight (No jokes) - reason I read it again and again (to be sure of what I was reading). Ok, that said.
Lovely write up again. I like your perception of things termed scriptural and inspirational. I do know though, that most people won't agree with you but I do, because it makes complete sense. So I can say, Reading this give me Rhema (if you know what I mean).
Well, truly nothing has been added to the bible since it was written - makes it sound outdated - but everyone who has read the Bible knows that it contains information that help us in our lives now in this 21st century, this affirms the Fact that God is all knowing, He is the beginning and the end, meaning He knows the past, present and future (he knew the things people Now and in the future would need to know). God speaks to people now via the Holy Spirit, so we can't say he has been silent. Hence, I believe it is wise to read books that are inspired (by the Holy Spirit) because they broaden our knowledge and helps us understand better the Word of God...
Thank you so much Sophy.
Thanks for writing in. Glad you enjoyed it.
From prosaic
HI Sophie,
I enjoyed reading your email and I agree with you. Inspiration can come from many sources. Have been inspired when watching certain films where they seem to speak to me in some uplifting way.
I write poety that touches on many themes and I have one that is spiritual in essence. I can send it to you for your perusal.
regards,
Proseman
Looking forward to it, thanks!
Please keep your comments and suggestions coming! Until next time! Sophy New Year |
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Spiritual: July 24, 2013 Issue [#5799]
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