Selah: Perspectives

TUES., DEC. 17, 1996,7:37 AM
FARM, STUDY

Yes, o son, this shall be a continuation of My comments to you on your perspectives on life, as well as death. I’ll also remind you to begin to reread and select Teachings for the Ruminations you should write this week. What is “vacation” for, if not to work with Me on the task that shall remain, when “work is o’er”?

These perspectives are, of course, a concept that We have developed together. Yes, five is enough, but because of the diversity among humans that I have both created and allowed there are differences within each, as well as one from the others.

You characterize the Ecological perspective as naturalistic, because there is no belief in any continuation of life as spirit. Life is “natural”, and when the body dies that’s all there is. Yet there can be a recognition of spirit as a part of this natural life. Some humans who work hard for the rights of animals do so with real spiritual feeling for these other forms of life. You have had real feelings of love for some of your dogs… Charity was a real companion for some years of your life. And yesterday you felt some conflict as you shot and killed a small possum that, presumably, was out to kill your embattled rooster, Chanticleer.

You can feel the spirit in this place, partly because I have told you that I have wanted you to be here for a significant part of your life, but also because there is an inherent spirit in this nice piece of earth. You have planted wherever you have lived and enjoyed, in your spirit, the results of such plantings. So, there can be the experience of spirit in what this perspective calls “the natural world”.

You were heard on the radio by several folk, talking about euthanasia and assisted suicide. One manifestation of the Humanistic perspective is to oppose such shortening of life. There is only one life, and, today, medical science comes up with new treatments and even cures every day. Human relationships are the highest form of interactions, for, of course, there is no Me. Therefore the premature, purposeful taking of a life deprives others of such relationships. Everything possible should be done to maintain and extend human lives, whatever the cost, say some.

Yet another facet of this perspective values dignity and honor, almost akin to spirit. Life that hobbles on in pain and in degradation and deterioration is life without dignity and significant purpose. There is also the value on autonomy, wherein the spirit in a person (naturalistic, naturally) should be able to decide that life is no longer useful and should not be continued. There is nothing after earth life, but nothing can be better than suffering. Further, a Humanist may be aware of the stress her continued life is causing in loved ones. Dying can be seen as honorable… “it is a far, far better thing I do than I am doing now…”

This, then, shades into the perspectives, Christian, Reincarnation, and Life After Life. “He who would save his life would lose it”… “give up something good for something better”. Each can have a sense that there are rewards in dying nobly, selflessly, honorably. As Jesus I certainly could have come down from the cross and prolonged My earth life. My servant Edgar, a Christian with a unique gift and message, could have cut back on the readings be gave and could have prolonged his life, but he knew that, for him, a sacrifice was needed to complete his earth journeys. Some suicides can be selfish. Many are much more selfless and honorable.