Friday, 22 November 2013

Thinking about time

When I think of history I like to think of the relationship between the Divine and temporal time using the analogy of the Crucifix.  On the horizontal axis, we have earthly (temporal) linear time.   Event A is followed by event B which is followed by event C etc.  In regard to the vertical axis, this is where the Divine pierces earthly time. The Divine is eternal, not subject to time, but is beyond it. 

When thinking about history then, we have to consider when and where the divine pierces earthly time, as this historical context is important (meaning that, if the intervention failed then it would need to be undertaken at ‘another time’ which means the intervention may well look different.  This is because the consciousness of human beings does actually change over (long periods of) time, and this means, how we relate to the Divine changes over time too. Therefore, how the divine ‘touches us’ will also change.

Now, when we are situated somewhat after the historical event, we have two different ways of understanding it: (1) historically, as we are accustomed too, and (2) from the perspective of eternity – that is, attempting to apprehend the motivation purpose for the Divinity’s intervention, from the point of view of the Divinity itself (the true nature of a spiritual event can only be understood in the spiritual itself.  Any attempt to understand such an event with ‘fallen’ thinking will only get us so far).  Only in this way, can we comprehend the greater picture of the spiritual event – by combining both the earthly and heavenly perspectives.

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