  Spiritual
This week: Edited by: Sophy  
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Hi, I'm Sophy ~ your editor for this edition of the Spiritual Newsletter. Valentine's Day occurs this week so it seems like a good time to talk about love. 
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 Language of Love
I believe that at the center of the Universe there dwells
a loving spirit who longs for all that's best in creation,
a spirit who knows the great potential of each planet
as well as each person, and little by little will
love us into being more than we ever dreamed possible.
That loving spirit would rather die than give up on any of us.
"Life's Journey According to Mister Rogers -
Things to Remember along the Way"
Perhaps because love is so universal, and has many different layers of meaning, it's is one of the most common themes that appear in writing of all types. There is a whole genre of writing dedicated to love in the romantic sense, but because this is the Spiritual Newsletter, I want us to look at love in a directly spiritual way (not to imply that romantic love can't be spiritual  ). Specifically I am referring to writing about the love connection between humans and the Divine. For the purposes of this article, from this point on, I will refer to "God" or the "Divine" as the "Sacred," since not all of us refer to "God" by the same name.
Ever since humans began to string words together to form thoughts and express their feelings, we have strived to describe and interact with the mysterious relationship between the Sacred and creation. Whether it be in the form of a song of praise, or a prayer lamenting our woes (both of which can be found in the book of Psalms in the Hebrew Bible, for instance), humans have long attempted to try and find a way to communicate with and about the Sacred. To that end, spiritual practitioners known as mystics, which come from many religious and spiritual traditions, have often put those experiences into written words that have lasted and inspired us for generations.
Mystics hold that there is a deeper, more fundamental state of existence hidden beneath what appears on the surface of life, and thus focus on the unity of both the internal and external as they seek the truth about themselves, and most importantly, about their connection to the Sacred. As a result of their deep states of prayer and meditation, many of them found ways to express their experiences with the Sacred in poems, prayers, and song. Some of the most famous mystical poets of human history include Rumi, Kabir, and Meister Eckhart, all three practitioners of different religious paths (Rumi was a Sufi Muslim, Kabir a Hindu, and Eckhart a Christian).
One of the things I love about the great mystic and spiritual poets of human history is that you often cannot tell which religion or spiritual path they follow merely by reading their love poems to the Sacred or Divine (perhaps because love and the Sacred are so universal). For instance, here are three poems written by the three men who practiced three different religions I mentioned above. Can you tell, merely by their words, which religion they practice? (Answers will appear next month.)
The Hope of Loving
What keeps us alive, what allows us to endure?
I think it is the hope of loving,
or being loved.
I heard a fable once about the sun going on a journey
to find its source, and how the moon wept
without her lover’s
warm gaze.
We weep when light does not reach our hearts. We wither
like fields if someone close
does not rain their
kindness
upon
us.
The Meaning of Love
Both light and shadow
are the dance of Love.
Love has no cause;
it is the astrolabe of God’s secrets.
Lover and Loving are inseparable
and timeless.
Although I may try to describe Love
when I experience it I am speechless.
Although I may try to write about Love
I am rendered helpless;
my pen breaks and the paper slips away
at the ineffable place
where Lover, Loving and Loved are one.
Every moment is made glorious
by the light of Love.
What Kind of God?
What kind of God would He be
if He did not hear the
bangles ring on
an ant’s
wrist
as they move the earth
in their sweet
dance?
And what kind of God would He be
if a leaf’s prayer was not as precious to creation
as the prayer His own son sang
from the glorious depth
of his soul –
for us.
And what kind of God would He be
if the vote of millions in this world could sway Him
to change the divine
law of
love
that speaks so clearly with compassion’s elegant tongue,
saying, eternally saying:
all are forgiven – moreover, dears,
no one has ever been
guilty.
What
kind of God would He be
if He did not count the blinks
of your
eyes
and is in absolute awe of their movements?
What a God - what a God we
have.
As we celebrate love this Valentine's Day, I encourage you to find a way to express your love for the Sacred, or the love the Sacred has for you, either in a poem, letter, or story. It can be not only a valuable writing exercise, but also a profoundly spiritual one.
And Happy Valentine's Day!
Sophy
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In honor of Valentine's Day, below you'll find some offerings from other WDC members about love and the Sacred, or just about love in general. Please let the folks know if you read their piece by leaving a thoughtful comment or review.
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WOW! Some great responses to my last newsletter about the spiritual significance of water. Hope to hear from more of you next time! And don't forget to pass on subject ideas for future newsletters. 
From Zeke 
Great bodies of water often offer great comfort. The ocean is clearly a representation of the all encompassing power that our God possesses. Not all of water's powers involve touching us personally.
Zeke
Very true, Zeke, thanks for your comment!
From black_wolf
It looks like I am behind the times on my newsletters. The story I am currently working on involves a group of "people" who are learning to step out of the darkness of fear and ignorance into the light of peace and knowledge. With regard to this newsletter's theme, of water and the value it holds on multiple levels, the central liquid in my work is blood. There is in the Scriptures a close link between water and blood. Both are associated with life, and with cleansing.
Interesting how this connected with what you are working on - thanks for sharing!
From MDuci 
Dear Sophy, thank you for using my poem 'Second by Second' - Water is the healing source of the Universe and without it there would be no life...I love your Newsletter it is always so very enlightening keep up the great writing.
Marlena
Thank you so much for your kind comments -- I'm glad you were happy I used your poem!
From Lauriemariepea
hi, SophY--
thank you for your informative newsletter! i'm a big fan of symbolism, and you've presented valuable background knowledge of the importance of water in various religions. i'm saving this! 
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it!
From larryp
Hi Sophy
I often use waters in my poetry. I like to go out to a nearby lake at dawn, just to watch the movement of the water. I love the power in a rushing river or a stream trickling over the rocks. There is something spiritual about these waters. In Genesis, it says the Spirit of God hovered over the waters.
kansaspoet
Larry
There is something very spiritual about water indeed -- thanks for your perspective, Larry!
From faithjourney
Sophy, I want to commend you on including informaiton on various religions in your newsletters. Although I am Christian, I'm still interested in comparative religion (even took a class on it in college). I do find it fascinating to see how other religions view the things we celebrate and treasure, and to see our similarities and differences. My philosophy is that to spread the Word, you need to know something about how other people see the World! Then you know how to relate to them and explain your faith in ways they can relate to and understand. Thanks for being open minded and giving us the full story!
I'm so glad you appreciate the interfaith perspective I try to achieve in the newsletter (since it IS a spiritual newsletter, reflective of a variety of perspectives, and not just one). I too celebrate the similarities and even differences between us all, and appreciate your thoughtful comments -- thank you!
From Pen Name
Dear Sophy,
Thus, when we bleed, our blood is as wet and salty as the sea, for our biochemistry is still based to a great extent on the salinity of the oceans from which we evolved. We land-dwellers rose up out of the oceans, and are filled with the substances which birthed us onto terra firma in the first place.
Whoa, Nelly! I was intently reading your informative and well-researched editorial on the spiritual significance of water, when the above line hit me like a bucket of ice-cold . . . well, you know.
I am upset that you included this "theory" in your essay. As a subscriber to the Spiritual Newsletter, I believe God created humans for land and He created other life for the sea.
Sincerely,
Lotusneko
I am sorry you were upset by what I shared about evolution. As you point out, this is the Spiritual Newsletter, not the Religious Newsletter, and as such, it includes a variety of spiritual paths and beliefs. That said, many spiritual people, myself included, believe in evolution. Some do not. I appreciate you sharing your beliefs about creation, and do not apologize for sharing my beliefs about evolution, as I am sure you understand. Obviously people don't agree about everything, which is why we have so many religions and spiritual practices!
From SueCard
Thank you so much for the inspiration and encouragement your newsletter provides, especially during the time of "New Beginnings". These articles and letters are a haven and a life-line of encouragement.
Thank you for your comment, glad these are helpful for you!
Please keep your comments and suggestions coming, they are greatly appreciated! And on behalf of myself and the other wonderful Spiritual Newsletter Editors, Puditat larryp kittiara -- thanks for reading this newsletter!
Until next time! Sophy
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Spiritual: February 13, 2008 Issue [#2219]
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