NET WORK

Today I’d like to go to the edge with you. But first, let’s do a little “net work.”

From birth to death we humans engage in a wide array of micro and macro “nets”--from traditional social ones (family, clan, tribe, race) to volunteer/professional nets (friends, special interest groups, business) to political parties, and of course, the Internet, to name a few. There are other kinds of nets which some of us rely heavily upon as well--everything from financial security--our “net worth” (This one always makes me laugh.) to certain escape mechanisms like drugs/alcohol/violence/war/consumerism/etc. (These make me want to cry.).

And then there’s the “God net." 

There are all kinds of systems of belief out there. Whether they originate in a religion or not, they are just that--systems of belief (doctrines/dogma/creeds/confessions/etc.). But only that! What we “believe” about something, including “God,” doesn’t actually make it so. Besides, people "believe" all sorts of crazy things! (Reread the story of the golden calf in Exodus 32.) 

Religiously speaking then, when we say we believe in God/Yahweh/Allah/etc., we’re really saying two things: 1. We agree with a certain set of thoughts that someone(s) put into words. 2. These words have created concepts--a net upon which we base our words and actions--to live a good life. (BTW: Who gets to define “good” here...and good for whom?)

Still with me? Here’s where we go to the edge. What if there is no God net? What if there is no God? At least, not according to our current working definition of “God” which varies widely depending upon one’s belief system. Who’s right? Who’s wrong? (BTW: Carl Jung believed “God is unfathomable.”)

My point in all this? (Finally!) There’s much we don’t know about the God net. But this we do know: Somehow--from somewhere, someone, or something--we’ve been given each other. While we work out the details of all this, how about I be your net. You be mine. I know I’ll sleep better that way and I hope you will, too. 

After all, isn't this the intended net effect of Jesus' message?

TODAY.

LET’S GIVE THE WORLD & EACH OTHER A GIFT.

LET’S THINK ABOUT HOW WE THINK ABOUT THE GOD NET.