December 23, 2018
Recently while driving south on Highway 101 toward San Francisco I saw a bumpersticker that I didn’t understand at first. It said, “It’s not a religion, it’s a relationship.” Relationship with what, or with whom? After a few moments I had a hunch that the message was a Christian one, so I caught up with the car to see if the bumper or vehicle had any further clues about the beliefs of the driver. Sure enough, at the other side of the bumper was a fish symbol.
I have to give credit to the sticker designer and to the driver: their message got my attention. If the sticker had said something like “Jesus saves” or “God is my co-pilot” I wouldn’t have given it a second thought. Instead the sticker made me think. But what I think may or may not be what the Christian designer and driver intended.
If their message is a narrow one; that is, if they believe that one must have a relationship with a man/god who lived 2,000 years ago in Israel, then they’ve lost me. I don’t know whether Jesus died on the cross – I wasn’t there (or if I was, I don’t remember it). I do respect Jesus and what I think (hope?) was his message of love and kindness. But I don’t limit God to one historical figure, be he Jesus, Buddha, or Mohammed.
However, if their message is a broader one; that is, if they believe that the relationship is with God and whatever God means to me, then yes, I agree – that relationship is of the utmost importance. In fact, it is by far the most important relationship I have in this world.
I sometimes refer to God as my inner being, my higher self, my soul, or Buddha Dave. I see it as my creator, the eternal part of me that created the temporary personality and body that I currently inhabit. If someone else wants to refer to that energy as the Christ consciousness, the Goddess, Allah, or the Great Spirit, that’s fine with me. A key distinction, though, is that for me this creator is not separate from me, it is within me.
Whatever one calls it, I try to listen to it. I don’t always succeed, but slowly I’m getting better at listening. I still give too much attention to my opinions and selfish desires. But my Friend understands. We’re working on our connectedness. After all, it’s not a religion, it’s a relationship.
Merry solstice. Happy Christmas. And may the Force be with you.
David Wigginton 