i consider that the realities of this world have meaning, and tell us something of what came before and what will come after, and of what is above and also below it.
I think this way of looking at things is in many ways superior to the gardening analogy, because it is immediately clear from the analogy why God needs collaborators that he can speak to, and communicate with, to develop Creation. He needs Mr. Sun, and the Winds, and the Trees, and the Birds, and the waters, the angels, and even some of us.
One of the virtues of the sower analogy, though, is that it emphasizes God's willingness to let things take their own course, to unfold as they will, and to improvise based on those choices. So I tend to think of God as less dictatorial than Frank Zappa, perhaps because of the constraints of Creation or something unique to his personality. But combined with the sower/gardening analogy one has a more binocular, clearer perspective on how God works.
Also I didn't bring up possibly the best part of your analogy which is that God's project is simultaneously a school, for those who want to participate in God's creation and learn from the Master.
I love this lens to explore this topic. I was obsessed with a Zappa album for a brief period of time, it was my brother’s purchase, and I could never recall which album it was. His uniqueness was undeniable. Whatever you thought of his music, there was no questioning its originality and one-of-kind style. You are like that too, where there can be no mistaking you for another.
I think often of creation in the family sense, God as the head of the family, with his loving wife, kids, grand kids, great grand kids, and so on. The child’s good works bring honor to their family, to their father, and in no way does praising them take away from the father. Quite the opposite.
I appreciate the other lenses we can see this through. You’ve written a fair bit about creation through gardening, and Christ himself spoke of seeds and vines, but this was a completely new perspective.
you're absolutely right. and because of it i added this section on his wife:
also very important to mention, and central to my cosmology, is that Zappa was only able to achieve this level of control over his vision due to the presence of a counterpart, his wife. no matter her personal flaws, she was fundamental, not only in providing stability to an overactive mind, but also by being involved in many practical aspects of the whole endeavor. this too, and again, i believe to apply to our Sky Father, he too must have a wife to ground him and help him.
This sounds interesting but it would be great if you could use proper capitalization. I suppose you think it marks you as an original, iconoclastic writer, but to me it just makes your texts difficult to read and to parse.
Great essay.
I think this way of looking at things is in many ways superior to the gardening analogy, because it is immediately clear from the analogy why God needs collaborators that he can speak to, and communicate with, to develop Creation. He needs Mr. Sun, and the Winds, and the Trees, and the Birds, and the waters, the angels, and even some of us.
One of the virtues of the sower analogy, though, is that it emphasizes God's willingness to let things take their own course, to unfold as they will, and to improvise based on those choices. So I tend to think of God as less dictatorial than Frank Zappa, perhaps because of the constraints of Creation or something unique to his personality. But combined with the sower/gardening analogy one has a more binocular, clearer perspective on how God works.
Also I didn't bring up possibly the best part of your analogy which is that God's project is simultaneously a school, for those who want to participate in God's creation and learn from the Master.
fully agreed on everything
I love this lens to explore this topic. I was obsessed with a Zappa album for a brief period of time, it was my brother’s purchase, and I could never recall which album it was. His uniqueness was undeniable. Whatever you thought of his music, there was no questioning its originality and one-of-kind style. You are like that too, where there can be no mistaking you for another.
I think often of creation in the family sense, God as the head of the family, with his loving wife, kids, grand kids, great grand kids, and so on. The child’s good works bring honor to their family, to their father, and in no way does praising them take away from the father. Quite the opposite.
I appreciate the other lenses we can see this through. You’ve written a fair bit about creation through gardening, and Christ himself spoke of seeds and vines, but this was a completely new perspective.
you're absolutely right. and because of it i added this section on his wife:
also very important to mention, and central to my cosmology, is that Zappa was only able to achieve this level of control over his vision due to the presence of a counterpart, his wife. no matter her personal flaws, she was fundamental, not only in providing stability to an overactive mind, but also by being involved in many practical aspects of the whole endeavor. this too, and again, i believe to apply to our Sky Father, he too must have a wife to ground him and help him.
also, thank you for saying such kind things about me. it makes me a little uncomfortable tbqh aha.
Wonderful. To follow up a very small thread, the "many hands" aspect of creation is poignantly captured in "Leaf by Niggle".
Great little book that is.
indeed.
This sounds interesting but it would be great if you could use proper capitalization. I suppose you think it marks you as an original, iconoclastic writer, but to me it just makes your texts difficult to read and to parse.
it’s not original, many have done it and do so. but i undertand, it’s not for everyone.