himself from himself.
The key to improving a society and its institutions is for the individuals
and families that constitute it to become better spiritually, and this is the work
of religion: repentance, reformation and regeneration. Spiritual improvement
comes from within, from the Lord, not from human prudence and planning.
The earth will never be heaven, but the life of heaven can become ever
more present on earth in so far as the Lord is present in the hearts and minds
of people. Trying to transform the earth from without or below by building
towers of Babel is a vain exercise, but receiving the New Jerusalem from above
is a real possibility. Hubris leads to disappointment and ruin; humility to
success. “Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5)
“He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted the lowly.” (Luke
1:52)
Repentance is the first stage of regeneration. Acknowledging our
imperfection is the first step in becoming more perfect. It was when Naaman
finally acknowledged his lack of power to cure himself of his leprosy and did
what the prophet of the Lord told him that he was made whole. (II Kings 5:119) It was when the woman who had sinned washed the Lord’s feet with her
tears that she was forgiven. (Luke 7:44-48)
When we turn away from evil and toward the Lord, His beauty can then be
reflected in us. It is only Beauty itself that can make the world a more beautiful
place, and it can only be received by those who acknowledge that they have no
beauty of their own.
The Breath of Life
Creation, the Writings explain, is not out of nothing, but is a process of Divine
life and energy taking form in lower, simpler substances previously derived
from the Divine. This is speaking of the creation of the spiritual and natural
worlds and all their many recipient forms, but that Divine creative process is
mirrored in human creativity when an artist’s ideas and feelings are given form
in some natural medium.
We talk about the artist’s ideas and feelings, but where do they come
from? All human thoughts and affections come from the spiritual world, and
ultimately from the Lord, who is Life Itself. They are inspired -- “breathed into”
– the human recipients by the same Creator who in the beginning “formed
man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.”
(Genesis 2:7) Whatever life human art has in it is from the Divine source of all
life.
It must be remembered, though, that although all life is from the Divine,
it comes to us through the spiritual world, which encompasses both heaven
and hell. We are subject to influences from both realms, and this is reflected
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