I meet with several small Bible study groups each week and it's very interesting the interactions among the diverse (well, somewhat diverse) people. One group has an octogenarian (the elder) who I watch struggle with, and re-think his religious history - a rigid, conservative, fundamentalist, protestant Christian upbringing (I'm sure I've only scratched the surface with these labels!). He now and for the last decades desires more open, loving and non-judgmental relationships with his people and his God. The elder's world has been, and continues (as does mine) to be confused as he struggles to understand much of the spiritual, including: is heaven now and here, or is heaven somewhere and sometime else?
Confusion further occurs, more recently, because another member (the younger) of his study group, 30 years or more the elder's junior has been given pretty much a short term end of life prognosis; the younger's illness may end his earthly life in several months or a year. Now the elder has an unbalanced weight to his world view. His much younger friend may beat him to the grave, beat him to heaven (traditional view), and will be experiencing some of those near death issues that the elder has tried out in his mind for the last several years.
[SIDE NOTE / CONTEXT: The elder has avoided all funerals for years - visitations, yes, funerals, no - something about fear of what the preacher will say, and how the elder will hear it.]
And now, these questions about 'nearer-the-end' self that the elder has; can he ask them of the younger? It has become something of a vague, misty elephant in the group's space - though I don't think the younger realized it until the writer mentioned it...and the elder doesn't quite know what is going on either... But there is palpable spirit in the air at the group's table of bible study and discussion. A spirit of concern, haltingly spoken questions, and then momentary silence followed by a return to 'normal' conversation. All this in the ironic context of bible study – a study whose topics are wrapped around things not of the earth-dust, but of the spiritual, of love your neighbor, of love your God.
What does this have to do with dual or non-dual thinking? Well, if the elder is coming from a history of primarily dualistic thinking, but has struggled to become more non-dualistic in thinking recently, then this adds a complication to that experience. How does one grasp, how does one contemplate with hope, the paradox of the here and the there, the now and the then, of heaven? While dealing with a friend's pain and so soon so short a journey to an end? A non-dualistic view? Peace now, and peace tomorrow. Love now, and love tomorrow. Mercy now, and mercy tomorrow. 'Rejoice always', 'be anxious for nothing', 'the peace of God...will guard' - Paul, just how easy was this for you to write to the Philippians? [my rhetorical inquiry of the moment]. I'm not trying to force the dual vs nondual conversation, but it is a slippery fish to hook!
What is 'true...honorable...right...pure...lovely' when passing through this life? When among friends and believers? Is it any different than when among all others?
In one way a sideline listener (ease-dropping ?) would hear a question from the elder to the younger, and if listening with dualistic ears might hear judgment and implied criticism. However, the elder is asking from the heart, out of curiosity and concern; wanting to know what the younger is feeling and thinking, so that the elder could maybe feel or think the same. Not necessarily motivated by a need for a conclusive 'right' or 'wrong' answer/conclusion. [...this task-of-feeling-caring-loving is difficult for many men of my tribe...]. At least so the elder desires more food for thought about his own steps towards end of life...
And then, another great question arises. Is this an end of life, a beginning of life, a great leap into a holy (eternal) realm of peace and streets paved with gold? And how will the transition, the passage, the from here to there be made? Especially in light of the elder's recent avoidance of most travel – he stays close to home. These are conversations that all good curious godly people are likely to have? And should be able to discuss with their friends and family and church. Discuss in a variety of settings and moods and feelings and experiences - not all of which need to be sad or frightening or lonely.
PEACE to all...
