“More precious than jewels,” is the noble woman according to the Book of Proverbs. But, in a previous chapter, the same writer tells us that “Wisdom” is more precious than jewels. Wisdom, also named Sophia in ancient texts, is the feminine aspect of the Divine, so desiring to know God that she gave birth to humankind. She is the Divine Mother, whispering pearls of wisdom and often personified by the mother figures and nurturers in our lives.
Mothers, indeed are often the voice of Pearls of Wisdom. I know my mother had her favorites. “”When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Mom’s teaching of resilience and persistence. “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” Mom’s teaching of looking past appearances for a deeper meaning. And, “Two wrongs don’t make a right,” Mom’s way of calling me to a higher action.
The mother figures in our lives as well as the mother essence in us, calls us to a higher action. Jesus’ mother was known to call him to action too. You may recall the Wedding Feast at Cana when Mary informs Jesus that the couple has run out of wine. Jesus replies, “What is that to me?” sounding a bit like a rebellious teenager wondering why this should be his problem. But there is another way to hear these words, “What is that to ME? What is a little thing like running out of wine to me? What is that to the Christ, the anointed one?”
When something appears to be lacking, or slips in the back door of our consciousness, disturbing our peace what could we learn by responding with those words? What is that to me? What is that to the highest and best in me. What is that to what is most precious in me? What is that to the Christ in me?
Something came up for me recently, something slid in the back door of my consciousness. It was one of those comments that causes you to feel judged, tempts you to become defensive, to attack, to blame, to shame. And so I asked “What is that to me?” What is that bringing up for me? Is it bringing up that I’m somehow less than perfect? Is it bringing up a need to change another’s perception of me? And, what is that to the Christ in me? What is that to what Truly is perfect in me? And how can responding to this differently, from the place in me more precious than jewels make a difference? How can I be transformed by this and what would that look like? What would Love do here? What would Light do? What would a new thought, a new response and a new action do? Well that would change everything because it would change me and my own perception and I would see something much greater at work.
Would this change another person’s perception. Maybe. Maybe not. But when we let Light shine through us, and stand fully in our Christ self, we are so changed that the world around us begins to shift. This is what is called to action by what is more precious than jewels in you. The apostle Paul summed it up best with these words “Christ in you, your hope of Glory.”
© 2017. Rev. Eileen DeRosia Patra
Rev. Eileen is an ordained Unity minister currently serving as the senior minister at Unity of Livonia, in Livonia, Michigan.
HOLOGRAMS allow us to see an image captured on a 2-dimensional surface with a 3-dimensional perception. HOLOGRAMS miraculously display what is 2-dimensional as a 3-dimensional image. A HOLOGRAM torn in two will reveal the exact same complete image on both pieces. In fact, the HOLOGRAM divided into a million pieces would still reveal the complete image on every piece. Like a HOLOGRAM, each of us contain the entire image of God. As spiritual beings, continually evolving, we expand and multiply into billions of expressions of the Divine. Yet we are one continuous, complete image of the Divine ever-longing to return to the state of wholeness from which we have burst forth. What is truly miraculous is that even in the state of what appears to be separation, expansion that draws us apart, we are still one, whole and complete. When gazing upon one another from a God’s eye view, even the space between is miraculously imbued with the image of the Divine. The appearance of empty space is an illusion as there can be no space where God is not. A HOLOGRAM is a miraculous manifestation of the nature of humankind as one with the image and likeness of the Divine.
FIRE, the miracle of combustion that fuels heat to keep us warm in inclement weather has long been held as magical and mystical by humankind. I recall the movie “Quest for FIRE,” in which the role of Fire Keeper was revered by prehistoric tribes. FIRE was vital to their survival and not easily produced if the flame went out. The miracle of FIRE continues to be vital to our wellbeing, but it is so more than a chemical process producing heat and light. FIRE is given a mystical role in the story of Moses as he stands before the burning bush which is not consumed. FIRE is associated with Spirit when Jesus predicts a baptism of FIRE imbued by the Holy Spirit. Metaphysically we use FIRE to describe an inner desire, a deep inner urging of the soul to express the talents, gifts and qualities written upon the heart. This is a FIRE that is not consumed but burns within saying “remove the sandals from your feet, for the ground upon which you stand is holy.” Everywhere we stand is holy ground when remove the attachments of the personal will and allow the FIRE of Spirit, that which is Holy and Divine in us, to be expressed
Eileen Patra 