There’s More

Opening the day, I’ was pondering yesterday’s experiences sharing personal aspects of The One Hypothesis with my Bishop and his wife, and later with the Rabbi.

Let me give you the bottom line before laying in the background. I wonder if I had an opportunity to share the following with a congregation, would  they grok the concept:

All of you understand what it means if I say that 1 + 1 = 2. Most all of you understand that A + A = 2A. When I tell you that A is in fact a vector, most of you (Group X) will still think that you still understand what A + A = 2A means. To a degree, you (Group X) will be correct. But, others who have been taught and used vectors (Group X2) will glance at each other, knowing that they (Group X2) understand something that Group X only believes they do. Both groups hear the same words, because by design they are based upon generally the same concept, but without the additional insight the distinction is impossible to fully comprehend. How many within Group X will wonder and ask, what is a vector? What don’t I see? Will the remainder feel no inclination to pursue learning more even though the deficit has been pointed out and they could readily learn from those around them within Group X2; do they know enough; are they satisfied?

Yet the Lord hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day. (Deuteronomy 29:4)

Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house. (Ezekiel 12:2)

Being One with God is like that. If you don’t know, you will probably be convinced that it means feeling the Spirit. It does mean that, but it means more than that, much more. In saying that, I’m pretty sure that I have no concept of just how much more. I’ need to know just how much more.

The Bishop and his wife invited me for dinner this last Christmas. Since I was fasting, we planned in lieu to do breakfast here. While at the synagogue, I felt impressed that I should ask for an opportunity to share my testimony with the fellowship. After the worship service I approached the rabbi and expressed the desire to do so if there was an appropriate place and time. The rabbi asked what I wanted to share. I’ tried to sell the idea by explaining that the fellowship had been an essential part of the things I have been learning and had provided some of the keys allowing me to progress.

It is difficult for us to know exactly how what we say might touch the heart of another. Nevertheless, there is a certain understanding we obtain through body language and the tenor of the dialogue that ensues. Of the three individuals, one person was accepting, touched by the Spirit, and readily offered that testimony as we separated. Another person was absolutely convinced they completely understood, and attempted to lecture me. This person pretty much ignored all the attempts made to convey that what I’ was saying (A + A = 2A) and what they were hearing (A + A = 2A) were not the same. The third person was also convinced they completely understood and expressed that in ways that made it quite clear that they did not. In that case, when I’ elaborated, that person seemed to listen to the counterexamples and understand to a significant degree what was being offered.

Joy reminded me that a scripture we discussed recently in our studies is relevant:

And these are the words which he spake and caused to be written, saying: My brethren, all ye that have assembled yourselves together, you that can hear my words which I shall speak unto you this day; for I have not commanded you to come up hither to trifle with the words which I shall speak, but that you should hearken unto me, and open your ears that ye may hear, and your hearts that ye may understand, and your minds that the mysteries of God may be unfolded to your view. (Mosiah 2:9)

In the end, I don’t know how any of the three will respond to having been told that there is more to being One than just feeling the Spirit. I don’t know to what degree they will understand concepts like:

• If I’ am One with God, and you’ are One with God, then we’ will be One (I don’t believe there is any other way).
• Being One results in having no disposition to do evil.
• We don’t become One by first learning to be perfect. We become perfect by first learning to be One (substitute in any virtue of God: love, power, wisdom, humility, patience, compassion, forgiveness, etc).
• You don’t have to fight your way to the top of the mountain, God will take you there. The problem is not falling back off, because it is impossible to climb back up.
  • That plan B is important in that it returns us to Plan A (that will be the next post).
    • You shouldn’t conflate the idea of sinning and repenting (getting back up) with that of learning from experience.

The real bottom line: I’ believe God is telling me that while I may now understand vectors, there’s much more. Okay. Ready (I think). What do I need to learn next? Bring it on!