Another View on Creation

Recently I was visiting a friend's new apartment and saw that his (new) roommate had several Christianity-themed sculptures adorning the place. One of these was the uber-familiar "Creation" from Michelangelo. I'm sure most of us have seen so, so many pictures of this painting that it has become stale and sterile, devoid of any meaning or significance it might otherwise evoke from us. This, at least, is the case for me.

And I didn't consciously realize this very fact until I looked upon the Creation as a sculpture. It was white marble, and (quite notably) Adam and God each belonged to their own seperate "units" of the sculpture (i.e., they didn't share a common "base" or "foundation"). For some reason, this physical separation triggered something within that let loose a flowing torrent of insight and realization.

Before getting to my ultimate point, I'm going to take a quick detour before returning to Adam and God...

Recently, it must first be noted, I have given much thought to the idea that we consciously create the reality we experience. If we believe whole-heartedly in something, we will likely find evidence to support our beliefs wherever we look. And similarly, if we hold something to be straight-up impossible -- than we probably wouldn't even notice it even if it was right in front of our face. Anyone who has read "The Last Hours of Ancient Sunglight" (by Thom Hartmann) or seen the movie "What the @#*$ Do We Know?" might remember the concept that the Native Americans chillin' on the beach in 1492 didn't "see" the Spanish ships on the horizon. The idea is that such a thing would have indeed been "impossible" (that "ships" like that could be "out there") so they instead chose (on some level) not to notice them.

Let me approach this entire concept with an example. The socks you're wearing right now? What if I told you they were magic, and that they gave you the ability to fly?. Seriously. Two days ago, a little gnome switched them while you were sleeping. They're enchanted as socks can be, and if you wanted to, you could fly across town right this moment. If this were the case, and I hadn't told you -- would you ever know you could fly? Unless you "try" to fly on a daily basis, the answer is most certainly no. My point -- you might be walking around able to fly and not even know it. Why? Because you never legitimately try to fly. Why? Because it's impossible!! This "impossibility" in your mind immediately shuts off any manifestation of such an experience. (Not the exact same thing as above, I know, but hopefully not worthless).

Now I must bring this back to our boy Adam and the big G in the sky. My entire point to this thread is as follows: what if it wasn't God who created Adam... but Adam who created God?

Try looking at the Creation like this: first, don't think of the God (on the right) as being "the creator of heaven and earth" and all that. Think of him as something that is "seen" only by eyes who are prepared to "see" him. Now, from the moment frozen in time by this painting/sculpture, go back in time about 60 sixty seconds. Imagine God isn't there. Adam remains, and he is pretty much the same -- except that his out-reached hand is instead hanging limp. He still stares off into space, perhaps blankly or maybe deep in thought, and he is suddenly struck with the idea: "What if? What if there is someone or something else? Something out there? Something beyond?"

With these initial thoughts, he probably finds himself overcome with doubt and chuckles at himself for contemplating something so foolish. After all, up until this point his only concerns have probably been food, shelter, relaxation and women. But these aren't doing it for him anymore. Deep down, he feels a calling to something greater, and he can ignore it no longer. So once again, he battles through his instinctual doubt and cynicism and creeps back to the idea of "what if?". The sense of wonder and awe and mystery within him refuse to be repressed. "Really, what if?" And at that crucial moment, when his doubting and cynical nature loses its overpowering influence, Adam slowly begins to reach out his hand. Practically swimming in this awe and wonder and mystery, his fingers slowly become outstretched, following through with his conviction... and then he feels the touch.

I believe that what is important here is not "God" out there but the birth that has taken place within Adam -- deep down, he has awoken to the splendor of the Universe. The gentle hum that had been there all his life he hears now for the first time -- and it is a cosmic symphony. His consciousness has awakened, we might say. The sound aum we all know (or "om") as similarly been described by Joseph Campbell as "the sound of the Universe... the sound that transforms an animal into a human being." It has to do with waking up to what has been there all along. It has to do with coming to full realization that the treasure we instinctively yearn for (on the deepest level) seems to be (and always has been) right here in front of us. And we notice it for the first time.

There is a Hopi Indian saying that goes, "You have to believe in gods to see them," and I think that sums up the point I'm getting at exactly. The second we allow for the possibility of something to exist in our heads, we open up vast doors of potential within. And to think this is all about "finding God in your life" is missing the point entirely. It has to do with eating apples, playing basketball, folding laundry and running around the lake. It is through what we bring to these activities -- what we believe, what we consider possible -- that determines the reality we find ourselves living in. If we see no life, no spirit, no wonder in the everyday world through which we walk -- it will remain a lifeless world and give nothing back to us. Yet, if we instead open ourselves up to all of these things -- doors will open. And through these doors will pass magical and enchanted forces that will indeed bring life to our world.

This is something that will surely be infecting many of my future posts (as they all sem inter-related, I'm noticing).... so if I have indeed lost any of you, then, well... I can only hope you'll return again. Until then, have a nice day... and remember those magic socks.