Thomas Jefferson,
while President of the United States of America, took a copy of the New
Testament and cut out anything he deemed to be supernatural, polemical,
or self-serving. He believed what remained was a purely moral document.
(Isn’t that just great? – Can you imagine a modern President doing such a thing?)
In that spirit, I want you to consider trying the following spiritual-religious exercise.
Instead of starting with the Bible and removing the parts you don’t like, I want to you start with a blank book
and build a book of wisdom and words you consider to be beautiful,
divine, glorious, godly, hallowed, heaven-sent, holy, insightful,
inspirational, inspired, numinous, profound, sacred, sanctified,
spiritual, sublime, or venerated.
If you don’t like the holy books out there, then this is THE exercise for you!
For
those of you who want to, go to a scrapbooking store and get some
supplies that will help you to “illuminate” your holy text.
Then, when you are looking for a good book filled with inspirational wisdom, you’ll know what to reach for.
Spiritual-Religious exercise for the week: Collect at least 4 quotes for your D.I.Y. Bible.
With love,
Rabbi Brian
If you are curious as to what’s in my holy book, let me share a few of my favorites with you:
- If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear as it is: infinite. (William Blake)
- We have no reason to harbor any mistrust against our world, for it is not against us. (Rainer Maria Rilke)
- Sell your cleverness, and purchase bewilderment. (Jelaluddin Rumi)
- Lord,
make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow
love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where
there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; Where there is
sadness, joy. O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek to be
consoled as to console; To be understood; as to understand; To be love;
as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning
that we are pardoned. And it is in dying that we are born to Eternal
Life. (Francis of Assisi)
- “Have faith in God,” Jesus explained.
“Now, let me elaborate: if someone tells a mountain to throw itself
into the sea and does not doubt in his or her heart that it will happen
– if he or she believes that it is already done and has no doubt, then
it will be done as they intend it to be. Therefore, I implore You, pray
for what you want, believe that you have received it, and, I promise
you, it will be yours.” (Mark 11:22-24)
- All the world, all of it, it is a very narrow bridge. The important thing is not to be afraid. (Rabbi Nachman of Bratislav)
- Truth is a pathless land. (Ramani Maharish)
