The Place Where Lost Things Go

Definition of Lost - "1. Unable to find one's way; not knowing one's whereabouts.  2. Denoting something that has been taken away or cannot be recovered."

In the movie Mary Poppins Returns, Emily Blunt sings a lullaby to the Banks children to remind them their mother who has passed away, can be found where the lost things go.  This song and scene gave me pause to think more deeply about loss and our society now that my parents, part of the greatest generation, are gone.  

So much of the turmoil in our country is that we believe we are losing who we are in the transition to the new.  We no longer recognize the values taught to us in our youth as we struggle to emerge into the twenty-first century.  We have become a nation of transactions, not of collective values and vision.  

But we must remember that past generations have faced crises and overcome their obstacles changing and moving society forward to be more progressive, inclusive and diverse.  

As I think about the values of my parents, they were not lost when my parents moved on.  Those values are here inside me and, in every person, I touch when I practice my parents’ lessons.  In an age where we are driven by rapid change, economic inequality, and threats to our existence, we need to visualize what our world can be collectively and work towards it.  We can find our way, and what we feel we have lost, can be recovered. 

As Emily Blunt  (Mary Poppins) sings,  the lost things never really left. 

The Place Where Lost Things Go

"Do you ever dream

Or reminisce

Wondering where to find

What you truly miss

Well maybe all those things

That you love so

Are waiting in the place

Where the lost things go

Memories you've shed

Gone for good you feared

They're all around you still

Though they've disappeared

Nothing's really left

Or lost without a trace

Nothing's gone forever

Only out of place"

Mary Poppins Returns

 "You've forgotten what it's like to be a child." - Angela Lansbury in Mary Poppins Returns
Annabel Banks: "Everything is possible."
Mary Poppins: "Even the impossible."

The first theater movie I ever watched was Mary Poppins when I was four with my mother, father and brother.  This Christmas morning I made a solo trip to the theater to see Mary Poppins Returns, my parents long gone and my brother, nieces and nephews now dispersed throughout the country.  As Mary Poppins (Emily Blunt) descended from the sky tears trickled down my cheeks.  I did not expect such an emotional experience at seeing Mary Poppins return.  The movie set and score were beautiful and took me back to my childhood, but also caused me to reflect on my life today.  As Emily Blunt sang "The Place Where Lost Things Go" as the children mourn their mother, I was reminded my parents and other loved ones were now gone, but still close in my memories.  As they sang "Can You Imagine That" I remembered how powerful my imagination has always been, but lately I have been putting my dreams aside as an adult is expected to do.  I have been feeling that labels, like the cover of a book in the song "A Cover is Not the Book," are often misleading and lack the depth of the person or the book itself.  Sometimes I think we need to turn our world upside down like the scene and song "Turning Turtle" to see life as it really is.  I have been saving dance videos because I needed to "Trip a Little Light Fantastic" to feel joy in my life and reflect the light in our lives.  And sometimes we need to realize there is "Nowhere to Go but Up" when we are feeling down and our dreams are out of reach.

In the beginning of the movie, Mary Poppins says she will stay with the Banks family until the door opens.  In the final scene, as Michael and Jane and Michael's children approach the front door to their home, Emily Blunt as Mary Poppins and Angela Lansbury observe the adults are remembering Mary Poppins and her magic, but will soon forget as all adults do.  The front door blows wide open with a huge gust of energy, Mary looks surprised.  She then realizes now is the time she should go with a knowing smile on her face.  I started to cry in earnest as I realized that a door once chained and locked had been blown open for me, if only I would walk through it.

A door or doorway symbolizes the transition and passageway from one place to another. A door is often used to symbolize the passage from one world to another in religion, mythology, and literature.  In our passage from childhood to adult, we forget that "everything is possible, even the impossible."  Jesus said to come to him like children.  Jesus blew the door wide open, if only we believe.

Spiritual Singularity

"No problem can be solved by the same consciousness that created it."  Albert Einstein

I am reading a short book titled a Hunger for Wholeness by Sister Ilia Delio.  She currently holds the Josephine C. Connelly Endowed Chair in Theology at Villanova University and has earned doctorates in both theology and science.  She is an expert in the theories of Pierre De Chardin Teilhard, a paleontologist and theologian, and she has expanded on his thoughts based on discoveries in science subsequent to his death in 1955.

Sister Delio explains there is an inner universe and an outer universe.  Science can explain the outer universe through observation and by math, but the inner universe is experiential.  Science can describe the construction of an atom, but cannot describe an what an atom can experience.

There are also two forms of energy in the universe – axial energy which is increasing and irreversible and the other which is peripheral or tangent, constant and reversible.   Axial energy is the force that expands the galaxies through attraction, connection, complexity and consciousness.  We can see axial energy at work in the Big Bang and the combining of the simplest of elements which ultimately formed humankind.   Peripheral energy results in entropy, the deterioration of our bodies.

Axial energy and quantum mechanics behave differently than the peripheral energy and behaviors in  Newtonian physics.  In quantum mechanics, the presence of an observer changes the action of light waves or particles.  This leads us to the question, is anything is really material and concrete irrespective of what we observe?  The answer is not at the quantum level.  In addition, in quantum mechanics, particles are interrelated often in unexpected ways.  The turning of a particle in one part of the universe can affect another light years away instantly.  For instance, the flapping of a butterfly wings can change a star across the galaxy.

Sister Ilia Delio postulates the universe could not exist without an observer or consciousness existing first –  and that God is intimately intertwined in his creation. "Some scientists speculate that without consciousness, the universe would exist indeterminately as a sea of quantum potentiality."  Without consciousness there is no matter.   She further writes that creation is an expression of God's love and he is moving us forward to a greater consciousness to be shared by humans.

Pierre De Chardin Teilhard wrote of spiritual singularity or reaching the Omega Point.  In my mind (my theory), spiritual singularity is similar to sharing the inner energy and joy of a musical concert through telepathy.  You don’t just feel the noise and physical movement of the concert participants, you share an elevated inner joy and connection collectively, increasing the power of consciousness and love within each person.  When there is a sufficient concentration of consciousness and joy we will reach the Omega Point, the complete body of Christ.

I also theorize, when spiritual singularity or the Omega Point is reached collectively (transcendence of the mind), all that is not of God (love) or is sin will be wiped from consciousness shared by the body of Christ.   This will result in the ability to transform matter into energy and back again escaping the reality of our mortal existence in this temporal plain.

The Need for Myths

“But Jesus said, Allow little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”  Matthew 19:14

I once attended a conference at Saint Louis University, where Fr. Paul Coutinho, S.J. spoke.  While speaking he talked about a conversation with another priest on what would be done if the historical Jesus of Nazareth was proven not to have existed.  The other priest said he would turn in his collar and give up the priesthood.  Father Coutinho’s response was “I would die for the myth.”

So much of our understanding of Jesus is myth born out of individual spiritual experiences.  Many believers picture a personal relationship with Jesus even though they have never met him in person.  Pastors and priests study ancient history and archeological information and describe Jesus’s life as though they know personally know what Jesus experienced.  Tens of thousands of books have been written on Jesus.  How could so much be known about Jesus based on the Four Gospels?  We write as if we know Jesus because we all need individual and shared myth stories.  Myths can be rooted in human truths that cannot be expressed any other way than with stories.  Stories and myths allow us to connect with each other and our society with shared understandings and values.   These stories inspire us to do better and unconsciously affect everything we do.

Sometimes, a myth needs to be reframed for us to shift paradigms and act differently.  In the Christian faith, Jesus is expected to return and judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.  (Nicene Creed, 325 A.D.) This belief that Jesus needs to come again because we are not capable of overcoming our sinful nature runs counter to our belief he already saved us on the cross to pay for our sins.  He sent the Holy Spirit to guide us and Jesus has not left us when we love him as written in John 14.

15 “If you love me, you will obey my commandments. 16 I will ask the Father, and he will give you another helper who will be with you forever. 17 That helper is the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot accept him, because it doesn’t see or know him. You know him, because he lives with you and will be in you.  (John 14)

18 “I will not leave you all alone. I will come back to you. 19 In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. You will live because I live. 20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father and that you are in me and that I am in you. 21 Whoever knows and obeys my commandments is the person who loves me. Those who love me will have my Father’s love, and I, too, will love them and show myself to them.” (John 14)

Perhaps we need to reframe our myth believing that Jesus already gave us everything we need, if only we believe in his love and the Kingdom of God now?

Are we like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz where we always had the power to go home in our ruby red slippers?  If only we believe as children do?

“But Jesus said, Allow little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”  Matthew 19:14

What We Believe Changes Everything

"It is our duty as men and women to proceed as though the limits of our abilities do not exist." Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Pierre De Chardin Teilhard, a Jesuit paleontologist and writer, wrote that humans are not just another species, but another form of life that reflects upon itself.  He wrote about the noosphere, a shared consciousness that evolves towards “greater personalization, individuation and unification of its elements culminating in the Omega Point an apex of consciousness” (Wikipedia) which is based on love. He also wrote of the Divine Milleau an energy envelops us and that all of creation is immersed in.  Teilhard wrote that is affected by everything we think, say, and do.

Carl Jung, the twentieth century psychologist wrote of the human collective unconscious that is inherited and wired in our brain, populated by “instincts and by archetypes: universal symbols such as The Great Mother, the Wise Old Man, the Shadow, the Tower, Water, the Tree of Life, and many more.”  Wikipedia

I have been attempting to reconcile these two perspectives with my personal experiences of thought.  Am I a separate human being prewired through DNA with a symbolic structure from my ancestors?   Or is my consciousness really a part of an infinite consciousness (God) that contains all there is to know?  Can both perspectives be true?  Are scientific advances individual breakthroughs based on genetic brain abilities (Einstein postulating relativity) and the collective accumulation of scientific information contained in shared databases and analyzed by artificial intelligence?  Are we part of a larger energy field or are we an animal species walking through a mortal existence?  Are we all of these?

Are my creative thoughts and deep insights a product of a mental illness or am I somehow connected to an infinite consciousness that has revealed them to me?  Am I a psychic vessel that is sometimes wide open and cannot block or filter thoughts or energy from others in the greater consciousness?  Or is this merely my brain synapses misfiring or delusions created in my brain? Is my mind open to alternative realities including an eternal reality?   Am I a visionary of things yet to come or are they already here only to be revealed?

Ellen Langer, a psychologist, in her book Counterclockwise writes of the effect of our environment, especially those created by the medical profession as we age, on our mind and subsequent behaviors.  Many times, in our lives our thoughts and behaviors are dictated by attitudes and expectations of others that keep us from breaking outside our mental boxes.  What I do know, is that our ability to create our own positive narrative is critical to our mental health especially after undergoing trauma.  What we choose to believe changes everything.

My Personal Savior and the Cosmic Christ

“I am telling you the truth,” replied Jesus, “that no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. A person is born physically of human parents, but is born spiritually of the Spirit."  (John 3:5-6)

My heart and soul see Christ in two ways.  Christ the Lord, my Savior, both human and divine who tore the curtain between Heaven and Earth by dying on the cross and sacrificing himself for our sins.  He is the personal presence I can count on when praying and asking for guidance in my life.  He lifts my spirit and shows me the Kingdom of God on Earth through the love of others when I am discouraged.  He is my human face of God.

And then there is the Cosmic Christ that has been with us from the creation of the Universe.  He is the loving force unseen but by faith that propels us forward in our evolution of consciousness and spirit.   This is the Christ that we feel in awe of as we gaze at the stars and explore the universe.  This is the Christ that we are one with and astounded with the gifts of nature.  This is the Christ that tore the curtain in the temple separating eternity from our human existence on Earth.

In our churches, we emphasize the individual salvation through believing in Christ, but we ignore the Cosmic Christ.   Christ will not come again, because he is already here.  The Cosmic Christ is the creation of a shared consciousness or spirit that is the complete body of Christ.  We are not solely on a journey to save souls, but to create a shared consciousness that will sustain our Earth and humankind.  Although our humanity is a beautiful gift from God, we must remember we are spirit first and that Jesus is the unseen force propelling us forward in love.  Without the balance between the two – the love of the Cosmic Christ with the Personal Savior, we miss our connection of our spirit to our humanity at our peril.

My Church Home

“But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it” Ephesians 4:7

My church home is a network of individuals whom I have met who share with me a deep spiritual reverence and commitment born out of pain and the joy in their redemption and healing by God.  These individuals are spread across different churches and denominations and have touched my life profoundly.

I love the Episcopal church for its high mass and Christmas traditions.  It is the church home of my parents and my childhood in the sixties.  Leaving church after midnight mass on Christmas Eve in the snow and the family gathering afterward around the Christmas tree are vivid memories.  My parents were military, and their worship was reverent and traditional.

Another church that tugs at my heart is a small UCC church which serves the homeless in Belleville with a passion that belies their small congregation.  They meet in a bar and discuss how best to serve the community by raising our consciousness of about God, ethics, and others.  You can count them in the many fundraisers in the community serving others.

I also love my evangelical Methodist church that meets in small groups.  My small group is filled with individuals who are wise in spiritual matters and I am astounded by their personal stories of pain and redemption.   They great me with hugs and they miss me when I am not present.  A group of people more committed to Jesus as their personal Savior, you cannot find.

And then there is the Baptist church I attend with my former in-laws.  Pastor Randy has taught me how Bible passages govern our everyday lives as a Christian.  Every year I join Mom and Dad for the Singing Christmas tree service.

And last, but not least is the Catholic Church services led by the Jesuits with their Ignatian Spirituality.  They fill my need for a Cosmic Christ as one that is connected to our universe and all of creation.  I love the small group I meet with to discuss Spiritual Singularity and their deep concern for the environment and the oppressed.

All of these individuals and groups are my church because they serve one loving God and I am overwhelmed with their grace.

Rompecabezas

"The art of simplicity is a puzzle of complexity." -Douglas Horton

This weekend I watched the newly released movie Puzzle at the theater.   It reminded me of a previous Sacred Souls post dated March 26, 2016 in which I wrote about looking at the jigsaw puzzles and strategy games at my local Barnes and Noble.  I wrote about the joy and satisfaction in putting jigsaw pieces together to form a beautiful inspirational picture and how God knows the final picture even when I am missing pieces to the puzzle.

In the movie Puzzles, the main character Agnes, a devout Catholic who is a housewife caught in  an ordinary life, receives a jigsaw puzzle of the world for her birthday from her aunt.  In completing the puzzle, Agnes rediscovers her mathematical talent and ability to put a jigsaw puzzle together in record time. The final piece to the world puzzle is the city Montreal that she carefully puts into place and then smiles because it is complete.  She then answers an ad seeking a jigsaw puzzle partner and her whole life is turned upside down when she meets an Iranian inventor and champion puzzler.  Together they enter a national jigsaw puzzle contest as a team and win because Agnes deviates from the normal rules for puzzling which requires putting together the edges first and sorting by color.     The prize for the win is a trip to Belgium for the International Doubles Championship.  

During the course of the movie, Agnes' marriage and family is also turned upside down when she challenges their normal life and routine.  Robert, her puzzle partner, in one scene in the movie explains that everything in the universe is random and jigsaw puzzles alone, even more than love, provide the satisfaction of completing a picture. 

I believe that Robert's explanation is incorrect.  I believe that everything in the universe is related and that it reflects the Unus Mundus, a Latin term originating in the Middle Ages, for the deeper order of things which is based on love.  Carl Jung, the twentieth century psychiatrist, referred to the seemingly coincidences in our lives as synchronicity. We all operate in the unconscious in which God reveals to our conscious in her own perfect timing. In the final scene of the movie, Agnes is on a train alone headed to Montreal after turning down the trip to Belgium with Robert.  She always knew her destination and path she just needed to put the pieces together.

Eternal Life

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

-       Matthew 11:28-30

I have been thinking about what God means to me. In one of the churches I attend, the pastor preaches on salvation through accepting and declaring Jesus as our Lord and Savior.  I think this belief misses the core message of Jesus’s life.  Jesus Christ is love and in his love we all can find salvation.

Eternity is existing in the present without fearing or focusing on the past or future.  When I realize how many mistakes I made in this life, the people I have hurt, all the chances for human love I missed, I can find forgiveness in God’s love.  God is eternity, and, in the eternal, all is as it should be.  In this belief, I find the peace to rest.