You know what America is, as if you didn't already know -- it is one, big, fat, non-denominational nation.
It was as if all points came together at the same time, bringing a sea of old men in wigs to go about the hard part and set us up, leaving points of contention along the way of course -- as the change could not have happened, been processed, all at once; history would prove, it would take an evolution of baby steps upon the flights of freedom and liberty for all, in order for America to fully come about.
No question, it was going to take faith -- and a lot of it -- in order for the whole thing to work, and more importantly, keep going from generation to generation.
Yesterday, listening to Joel Osteen, he talked about his father who had a vision for the church; an idea that was looked upon with uneasiness, uncomfortableness, almost a sense of how in the world do you think that would work, are you crazy? kind of thing.
He wanted to create a church foundation based upon the unity factor of all people -- principles familiar to all, and a congregation brought together basically by the very idea of One Love. Call it evangelical; call it new wave and almost airy fairy, for in those days, nobody went outside the Baptist doors to worship with the Presbyterian; nobody came out of the synagogue doors to sit next to Lutheran; everyone stuck to their own house of worship, there own way of faith, there own God.
The melting pot of religion was just beginning to come to fruition, starting in mind, growing to a few hundred, and then finally coming into it's own -- as we see today -- a gargantuan stadium filled church with a congregation of thousands and a viewership on television exponentially building from the first day forward, reaching millions!
Osteen points out that nobody believed in what his father was selling back then; nobody could really see it taking off; nobody figured it was an idea that was going anywhere, let alone creating an entire industry on the mission of bringing God into every home, with all faiths coming together under the same roof, with all faiths melting into one love.
Nobody else could see it, but him -- and I guess to be only fair, and you, God.
And then it hit me; this is America.
We are the quintessential non-denominational church of believers, of revolutionaries, of realists, of dreamers, of thinkers, of doers, of makers -- under One Love, one nation -- under a God of many faiths under one roof.
This is America at it's best and most brilliant, and the way our founders intended.
I am reminded in this moment of one of the prevailing, leading messages under The Science of Mind, the Religious Science movement founded by Ernest Holmes decades ago -- the belief was that we are all humanity, walking around connected to each other through the magnificence of the Creator of all things, seen and unseen, according to faith, firm by our beliefs, and knowing we are each, individually and collectively, made in the image of God; the kicker, we may be all God in our make up, but we are not ALL that God Is.
I believe this very idea has the potential to bring a certain lightness of being for us all -- a settling down, if you will, for we are all connected to the Source; while in the meantime, as we move forward in our own personal creation process -- to bring forth blessings, to embody more and more of the nature of God and all that is Good into our daily life -- that this aspect of who we are as a nation, as a collection of spiritual beings having this human experience together -- might possible center us as a whole.
America is found within each one of us, yes; but far more important, was the intention back behind our foundation -- to bring our individual beliefs and faiths -- along with our inherent rights, privileges and duties too, with open and loving heart, together -- as a philosophy to live by for the country, for all the world to witness. By ourselves, we are limited, but together, bound by our common love, our belief to unite as a whole in all things, we grow -- miraculously -- into something better than we could have ever dreamed.
America was birthed from the missionary position in love and faith for all -- all people, all colors, all faiths -- but from One Birth, one idea -- an idea that was so wacky in it's day, we ended up starting an entire revolution over it; while we haven't really been quite the same since.
My hope is we fall back into this feeling of one faith, one birth, one country -- one big, fat non-denominational nation right quick; and be not ashamed; for only the evangelical nation that loves together, lives together in perfect peace and harmony from here to kingdom come, even when we are not so perfect, truly lives and outlasts in every way.
Amen to that, g
