Mary Flannery O’Connor (1925-1964) is quoted as saying: “I write because I don’t know what I think until I read what I say.”
I know how she felt and sometimes I do the same.
(So, if my comments are irrational, illogical and simply dumb, it’s because I haven’t yet thought them through properly – I apologise for those instances.)
Sometime I get asked a question which is so out of left field that it takes me a long time to formulate an answer.
When that happens, by the time I have got an answer, the conversation has usually moved on and it’s hard to get back to the question and so it slips through, often resulting in the questioner feeling frustrated and ignored – doh.
That happened to me this last week but fortunately, there was a long and sustained pause while I came up with an answer.
(BTW ABC TV has created a program based on that process – it’s called “You Can’t Ask That“. It’s one Danita and I find fascinating, intriguing and sometimes challenging.)
The question was: “Why, at a soul level, did you choose to be born into the Judaic tradition?”
To put it another way: before we are born we are in a world of pure spirit and operating completely on the soul level without interference from the physical/material realm.
From that world we make a decision about the life we will born into: who our parents will be, what part of the planet we will be born into and hence, what life experiences we will have.
Astrologically, we pick the time, date and place of our birth so we will have the attributes and experiences we need in order to fulfil our life mission.
So, why do we pick the life we have?
In my case, the question was based around the fact that I’m Jewish and that’s important to me.
So, why did I pick this life?
As I understand life, the Universe and everything, there are 70 root nations and soul groups.
(These are identified and defined in the Bible in the book of Genesis.)
I view the world as a global village.
As in any village or community, there are many functions which must be carried out for the village to function.
Examples of the roles are:
– farmers who produce the food
– manufacturers who make the goods we need like clothes, houses etc
– distributors and merchants to enable the produce to get to the people who need it
– scientists and technologists
– spiritual and moral guides
– soldiers and police
and lots more (yes, even politicians and used car salesmen).
In my world view, specific nations or soul groups have the mission of fulfilling specific roles within our global village.
Ultimately, we will come to understand that each role is necessary and is not more or less important that any other – hence there is no place for views of racial superiority.
After all, what is the use of technology if there is no food?
Or what is the point of abundant food if there is no compassion?
As humans we live in a world of ethical and moral choice.
The role of the Jewish people in our global village is to teach about conscience.
Even Adolf Hilter (not someone I tend to quote very often) said: “Conscience is a Jewish invention”.
And so, the role of the Jewish people, at a deep, core, soul level is to bring conscience and morality into the world and an awareness of the Divine.
It is to teach and show the world that we are all part of the one, whether you call it God, the Universe, the Divine or any of the other names that are used in different cultures and beliefs.
Science, in the 20th and 21st centuries has come to understand that the basic building block of the Universe is not an atom but is consciousness.
In religious terms we call that God.
The message of the Jews is that everyone (not just Jews) can have an individual and personal relationship with that divine energy which is the fundamental essence of the entire Universe.
For me, before I was born, I figured that was a pretty cool message to be bringing to the world.
And that’s why I chose to be Jewish.
And so to wrap up, I ask you the same question: At your soul level, why did you choose to be born as a ……. (whatever it is for you).
I’d love to hear your answer.