Writing in the Sand

Christmas, with the celebration of the re-birth of the Christ in the heart, seemed a good time to write about Thomas Moore’s short book, Writing in the Sand, because it’s a book about what that might mean. Thomas writes about the parable of the Kingdom of Heaven being like a mustard seed that grows into a tree where the birds build their nests.  He points out the comic aspect of this image: that is, there’s no such thing as a mustard tree – a mustard plant is more like a little weed – and writes: “This is a hint that the secret we are after…is small but potent, utterly ordinary and yet transcendent…Not a huge belief system but a slight shift in vision and values…”   (page 7)

This left me inwardly exploring what that small shift means to me, and the image that’s stayed with me is something about us all being One. I’ve been imagining the One pouring Her/Him/It-self into all these finite vessels – human beings, holly trees, pebbles on the beach – and consenting to be limited within the being of each one, while at the same time continuing to be One. It’s not such an uncommon idea, but it dropped down a level for me as I thought about what difference it made to ‘get’ this more deeply than I had done before…        Of course, I understand that life is an experience of ‘getting’ these things and then losing them again when I go off-centre, and then getting them again, maybe on a deeper level.

Thomas notices that the gospels have often been read through a morality lens. But he doesn’t think they are really about morality. He sees them as about making a tiny little shift of vision that allows us to live life more vividly, courageously, generously and enjoyably. He points out that the Jesus of the stories was not an ascetic, but rather was someone who clearly enjoyed earthy pleasures (like eating and drinking with all kinds of people). In his best-known book, Care of the Soul, he makes it clear that he believes our souls thrive on such moderate pleasures.

Thomas writes about the evidence that Mary Magdalene was prominent among the disciples (The Gospel of Mary Magdalene), and that Jesus was physically affectionate with her (The Gospel of Philip), and comments: “The privileging of Mary Magdalene and the suggestion of a sexual connection between her and Jesus fills a gap that otherwise threatens to ruin the spirituality of the Gospels. What happens to sex if it is not included in the stories and images of the religion? It remains shallow and wholly secular if it lacks an integral connection with spirit.” (page 130). Many writers are exploring this theme, from whom I would pick out the French poet, novelist and academic, Jean Yves Leloup and Cynthia Bourgeault with her books The Wisdom Jesus and The Meaning of Mary Magdalene.

At Christmas, we celebrated the re-birth of the Christ-child in the heart – a renewal of simplicity and innocence in which, as Thomas puts it, “the loss of all your ambitions and cravings changes your world.

Gillian Paschkes-Bell

Gillian Paschkes-Bell

Gillian is an Interfaith Minister with One Spirit Interfaith Foundation. She follows a Christ-centred path with the Ceile De and lives in Wales.