MISTAKE OR NECESSARY LESSSON

Sometimes the wrong choices bring us to the right places. Let's look at three words in particular.

mis·take:

"to take in error, to misunderstand, misinterpret, to miscarry."

er·ror:

"flaw, defect, a wandering, straying."

les·son:

"Something to be learned by a student, an occurrence from which something can be learned."

So, it can be concluded that when we make what is called a "mistake," it is an "error in judgement" (judgement means decision), and something that we are to learn from.

Once we have learned from the error, we move on ... never to repeat it again ... or at least this is the plan. However, if we repeat the same error, even though we have been taught a lesson; it is no longer a mistake ... it is a choice. We choose to wander from the Truth.

The English word SIN comes from the Greek word HAMARTIA. This is an ancient archery term dating back to the ancient Olympic Games. When the Archer would aim at the target's bulls eye and missed the bull's eye with the arrow ... the crowd would yell "hamartia." This literally meant "to miss the mark." He missed the intended target ... the bull's eye in the center.

Scripturally speaking, the intended target is Truth. All illusion is used to guide us to the Truth. Even among the Christian NT writings of the Book of John it is clearly spelled out:

John 4:24 says: "God is a spirit; and they that adore him, must adore him in Spirit and in Truth."

John 14:6 says: "... I AM - the way, the Truth, and the life ..."

Therefore, we are aiming at Truth, and when we miss (fall into error and ignorance), it is deemed to be "sin" ... or missing the mark of Truth. From a spiritual perspective, Truth is the ability to know who you are. In Oneness, there is no such thing as who you are not.

Trying to find the “right” way, or even the “highest” way, to explain or understand truth is like trying to find the “right” or “highest” expression of God. There is no “highest” expression. God/Absolute/Source - simply IS. Truth simply IS. At the core or center of what we call God is Truth. We cannot change or alter truth. We can't even hide from it. We can simply pretend we don't know it ... but is still IS.

Humanity has an instinctual evolutionary urge toward the Good, True and Beautiful. Wisdom is our most relevant map for that journey. Truth is what leads to goodness ... for all. When EVERYONE practices the "Golden Rule" (found in various forms in all religions), they “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

When we stop the continuation of errors in judgement even though we have learned the lesson through the Law of "Cause And Effect" - Karma (doing) - and eventually eliminate the consequences of wrongful thinking and action, then we will truly have hit the mark ... the bulls eye. And then, the world will be a better place for all.

Just a thought ...

~Justin Taylor, ORDM., OCP., DM.