Today began with axe throwing.

I had never tried axe throwing, and the opportunity presented itself as one of the cruise excursions, so jumped on it, and am VERY glad I did.

Phenomenal time with a bunch of fun people from the ship who were also open to trying something new, and the result was a great time.

So, first thought to ponder—when was the last time you tried something new? And a follow up thought to ponder—are you even open to the idea of trying something new?

Second thought(s) comes from a recent graduation speech given by the actor Harrison Ford.

“Nature doesn’t need people. People need nature to survive.”

And…

“Humanity is a part of nature, not above it.”

These thoughts are adding to the ones that I have shared off and on throughout this trip about how we might become responsible stewards of the past and future in the present.

I am beginning to sense a possible path ahead, but I am still wrestling. However, I am hoping to gain some more clarity tomorrow as I look out on the Pacific Ocean like Lewis and Clark did more than two centuries ago.

For the moment, I want you to reflect upon the fact that within the culture of most indigenous peoples, there is an understanding that there is more to reality than just the physical. That understanding is that the spirit world or spiritual realm is indeed a present reality and must be acknowledged and integrated into one’s life or a person will encounter many struggles as they traverse through life.

Unfortunately, this understanding has been mostly lost (or is denied) in the majority of western culture—except for pockets of people rooted in faith. 

To illustrate, within the Catholic Christian tradition, there are actually four “senses” attributed to the Word (God Incarnate). These senses are the literal, moral, allegorical, and eschatological.

Here is an example to help show the four senses:

In Genesis 1:1-2, we read, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was a formless void, there was darkness over the deep, and God’s spirit hovered over the water.”

Literal sense is what is depicted as the actions that happened in the beginning of creation.

Moral sense—God is eternally present as He was there even in the beginning of creation

Allegorical sense—When Genesis speaks of the Spirit of God, the Hebrew word Ruah is feminine. This verb is used to describe the Spirit’s action. The Spirit hovered over the waters.This same verb is used in Deuteronomy 32:11 to describe a mother bird protecting her young, “Like an eagle watching its nest, hovering over its young.” 

The image is clear and powerful. The Holy Spirit hovers over creation like a mother bird over her nest, bringing forth life, nurturing it, and protecting it.

Eschatological sense—The Holy Spirit hovers over creation like a mother bird over her nest, bringing forth life, nurturing it, and protecting it so that life may come to its eventual fulfillment in Heaven.

So what do the four senses of Scripture have to do with balancing, honoring and integrating the past, the future, nature, and us into the present moment?

Because they point us towards the fullness of reality.

We are nearing the end of the Easter season as we prepare for Pentecost this coming Sunday. That time in which we celebrate the Spirit descending upon the earth and setting all those upon it ablaze with the gifts of the Spirit so that the entire face of the earth is renewed.

Coincidence? I think not.

Anyway, I’ll leave you with those thoughts tonight.

More to come tomorrow.

Until then, prayers for each of you, and AMDG!