Parallel Lines

I was looking at the sky. I was imagining being at the beach, watching the waves crash into the shore. At first the waves were smaller, gentler but over the span of a couple minutes, the wind became more powerful and the waves more violent and louder. And then my eyes opened and I realized that I was dreaming.

When you look at either a photograph or a picture of the beach, usually, if the artist has properly done their job you are able to see a series of lines. If you are able to discover the lines, then you are able to see all types of things, you are able distinguish water from sky, you are able to locate the horizon, you are able to locate ships and land.

Mathematics is always present even if the photographer or painter does not acknowledge it. Look at the different intersections of the lines. But, equally important are the lines which run parallel to each other. Sometimes the dramatic tension of a photograph rests within subtle changes of light within parallel lines. Any twilight photograph, either dawn or dusk, contains many parallel lines varying in color, varying in darkness and lightness, varying in intensity.

Within our spiritual lines I wonder if the same type of parallel structure is naturally present which teaches us about goodness and then reaffirms goodness viewed, again and again and then confirms the goodness in our deeds.

Within our spiritual lines I wonder if a series of parallel connections provide the foundation which both encourages and allows us to hope in God.

Within our spiritual lines I wonder if love unconditional and love universal are parallel or if they intersect each other or if they are infinite or if they have definite start and stopping points. I sometimes think that although we talk about unconditional and universal love they shall always be unattainable abstracts because within many human beings buried within their hearts and souls are bigotry, pettiness, fear, and so many other negative things that nothing true sincere and honest can either bloom or flourish there. We can talk about love unconditional and love unconditional but can we ever truly experience it and more importantly are we able to share love unconditionally, love universally with everyone especially those who have harmed us? I think that is the true test of a Christian.

Our spiritual lives need to be examined and then reexamined. We must always be striving to live a life of love, humility, and mercy like Jesus Christ.