A
Bigger Picture
At this time of the
year, with all the leaves from the trees falling on the footpaths, and clogging
up the gutters, it is easy to overlook the fact that each leaf was once
attached to a tree and was part of a living organism! We think of the leaves on the ground as
“rubbish”, and often forget that each has come from connection to a living plant. A leaf does not come into being on its own,
but is created as part of a life cycle of a much bigger eco-system. Each leaf had to be formed, grow and
eventually fall from its creative tree.
The existence of the leaf indicates that there is a tree somewhere to
which it belongs (or belonged) and from which it came).
When talking about
the role of history in our society, Michael Crichton wrote: “If
you don't know history, then you don't know anything. You are a leaf that
doesn't know it is part of a tree.” (See
http://www.michaelcrichton.com/ for this and further quotes.) He was emphasising the point that none of us
has suddenly appeared independently on the face of the planet, but that each of
us is the product of what has been before (history), and the lives of each of
us is the result of events which have preceded us. Whilst it is likely that this comment may
have been made simply in support of recognising the importance of history in
our education, it also highlights the importance of each person as an
individual, and encourages us to try to understand the past.
I think many people
today think of themselves as “disconnected leaves”. People wonder why they are “blowing around”
without any apparent reason, not being aware of their own origins, purpose and
beginnings. People are reluctant to
recognise that each of us is what we are because of events of history which
have caused us to “grow” where we are. I
further believe that our life here is a physical manifestation of an existence in
a greater dimension. I believe that each
of us has a spirit and a soul as well as a body. Our body appears at a certain point in the spectrum
of our life cycle, and there is a life force which is greater than just the
physical manifestation. I believe that
our spirit pre-existed the manifestation of our earthly appearance, and
continues to live on (as part of the continuing life of “the tree”) even after
the leaf has fallen, and our bodies have gone through the cycle of physical existence.
As a religious
person I share a belief with many others that the source of our life comes from
a Great Creator, God, (recognising that there are many ways this can be
expressed). Further, as a Christian, I
believe that the Creator sent the man Jesus Christ into this World some two
thousand years ago to show us an example of a life style that we should seek to
follow – a life style, which, if followed, would enable us to always stay
connected to the life source. His
physical life was cut off, as a leaf from the tree, but after His resurrection
He was physically grafted into the life-source again, and continues to live connected
to it forever. By the Power of the
Creator, and through belief in Him, we understand that we will continue to live
in a “spiritual” form in the world to come.
As a Christian Israelite, I also believe that this same Jesus Christ
will return to this Earth again, at which time the elements of physical corruption
and decay will be overcome, and our physical life could potentially continue without
“falling from the tree”, and our life could be transformed into a perfected
physical (as well as spiritual) being.
This belief gives us a reason for living, and a vision with hope and
purpose for the future.
We
would like to invite you to talk more about the purpose of our life here on
Earth, the Life Force, and the way in which the Bible sets out the history of
where we have come from, and gives us hope for the future. We would like to invite you to contact us, or
a Church in your local Community, to discuss these issues. Feel free to contact us at any time, or see
Church Notices in this Paper for times of Meetings at the Christian Israelite
Church Sanctuary at 196 Campbell Street – we have been in continuous service
there since 1853 helping to meet the needs of people in a changing
society.
Rodney Gray – Pastor Christian
Israelite Church, 196 Campbell Street, Sydney (www.cichurch.com or visit
cichurch.blogspot.com.au)
