Some things are better not photographed. Yesterday on my walk around my Brooklyn hood, I saw a dead sparrow on the sidewalk. I thought of Hamlet and his line. "There is special providence in the fall of a sparrow." He is referring to Mathew 10:29 of the St. James Bible (1611). "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father."
I researched the term on Google. I found a site which quoted many versions of the bible. The Net Bible (2006), for example says "Father's will" and the Holman Christian Bible (2009) says "Father's consent" and the International Standard Version (2012) says "Father's permission."
"one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father."
This illustrates perfectly my problem with interpretations of the Word. In King James the interpretation that the Lord is with all creation at all times is both comforting and infinite, where all this about "permission", "consent" and "will" in the latter days seem specious attempts to usurp the power of spiritual love and use it for the sole purpose of subjugation.
"one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. " We are not alone. Our faith is always with us. That's my interpretation.
Permission, consent, will...perversion. I am no theologian. But my challenged faith comes from interpretations such as these. Fear of the other drives malice forward in the name of good. In the name of God.
"If it be now, 'tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be now; if it be not now, yet it will come- the readiness is all." Shakespeare.
Our country, connected by technology, faces many moral dilemmas. What if we choose the old intent of the word? Unconditional love. This ancient radical idea of forgiveness, understanding with the reassurance that nothing happens to us without our Father, our God, our maker, with us. Always.
Moral compassion for the other. For the victims of violence. For the persecuted. I do believe in omens. Omens for good, for change.
"There is special providence in the fall of a sparrow."
Fear no darkness. People must be free to love whom they chose. Freedom from tyranny, freedom of religion are the basis of this nation. Definition of marriage and of family are free to be determined by what ever religion you wish. But it cannot be legislated by government. Marriage as a secular concept is not defined by gender or sex. But by commitment.
Equality. This is the special providence of We the People. It is a never ending struggle to achieve it.
No comments:
Post a Comment