The First Commandment

The following commentaries on the Ten Commandments are not meant to be theological exegesis but are insights gleaned from meditation and contemplation. As with all I write, take what you like and leave the rest. I invite you all to sit in contemplation of these commandments and invite the Spirit of God to reveal their meaning to you.

First Commandment: Thou Shalt Not Have Any Gods Before Me

In order for me to comprehend this commandment, I needed a deep understanding of God. I had been taught and believed that God was the Creator of the Universe, of the seen and unseen. God was redeemer, powerful, loving; yet, at the same time judging, punishing and to be feared. I prayed to this God almost daily and was a faithful church attendee.

However, I did not feel really connected to God but I was sure that I did not put any other Gods before the Only God.

Therefore, I was surprised when my first spiritual director stated, “God is what you focus most of your time and energy on.” At this point in my life, my primary focus was myself. I was consumed with getting what I wanted when I wanted it. I was in control of my destiny, my life. I was the center of my Universe and received all of my own attention. According to my spiritual director’s definition, I was my own God. Wow.

The interesting thing was my life was filled with fear, angst and worry. My god (myself) did not give me confidence, hope or peace of mind.

It was during this time I received a letter from an anonymous source which said, “Becky, There is a God and you are not it.” This was an Ah-HA moment for me.

This was my first encounter with reflecting on the First Commandment which I had obviously already broken.

What do you spend the most time focusing on?

© Becky Benes 3-2011

The Parable of the Prodigal Son with a Twist

I have heard many sermons and interpretations of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-24). Most of them project the prodigal son as the wayward, selfish son who squanders his fortune but is then welcomed home by the father and resented by the righteous son.

This was great for me when I was searching for a scripture that would offer a ticket out of the life I had created and into one of mercy and grace. However, as I continue to seek deeper insights to this story, I find a twist to the story.

Please remember, take what you like and leave the rest.

When the brother asked the father for his inheritance early, the father graciously and willingly gave it to him. The father allowed him to go into the world and live his own life. The father supported his son's dream and his desire completely. He did not cut him off or say, "You unselfish kid, take what you want and leave, and don't bother coming home. The father did not judge him when he left and welcomed him when he came home.

This is a story of God, the creator of our world, who supplies all of our needs and allows us to go out into the world to test our wings. God does not prevent us from living nor does God judge our actions, but allows us to explore and to experience life. Most importantly when we make choices that aren't what we deem good or in our best interest, God welcomes us home with open arms.

Tend your own field

Judgment is one of those things that I come by naturally. I constantly look at the things around me and make judgments based on my own experience or my world view. Thinking that if everyone one would just do things 'my way' all would be well.

As I seek a deeper relationship with my Creator, I find the more I judge people, places and things whether it be positively or critically, the more I judge myself or feel that I am being judged.

In all major faith traditions, we are discouraged from judging others.
Confucianism considers judgment a disease of men:

"The disease of men is that they neglect their own field, and go to weed the fields of others, and that what they require of others is great, while what they lay upon themselves is light"(Mencius 7:2.34.3).

The Islam faith states: "He who sees his own faults has no time to see the faults of others" (Islam, Instructions of Ali Ibn-abi Talib, WR 285).

Wow, doesn't this strike a cord. How many times do I presume or assume what is good for you when I can't even keep my own house in order. I used to make it a habit to share with people how great their life would be if only they did things 'my way'.
I was jolted into reality when I was sharing 'my way' with three other women, and they said, "Becky, if your life is a reflection of what "your way" has to offer, we are not interested." This statement forever changed my life.
After I picked up my jaw and my pride and whaled myself to sleep, I heard what they said. My life or my field was so unkempt and weedy that I better stay in my own yard.

This lesson has served me well. I attempt to no longer presume to know what is best for anyone nor assume that my way is any better than yours. I take the time to hear your story, to seek to understand your way, to open my heart to other possibilities. The results are magical.

What I know is we are all doing the best we can with the information or the consciousness that we have at the moment.
Take the time to examine your own field, if it is like mine, you will be so busy, you won't notice your neighbor's.