Cass County Restored Covenant Study Group

Inner Wakefulness

This place is a dream
only a sleeper considers it real
then death comes like dawn
and you wake up laughing
at what you thought
was your grief.

Humankind is being led
along an evolving course,
through this migration
of intelligences.

And though we seem
to be sleeping
there is an inner wakefulness,
that directs the dream
and that will eventually
startle us back
to the truth of
who we are.

(Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi: 1207 - 1273)

On the Way...

Stand ye in the roads, and look, and ask for the Ancient Paths, wherein the Good Way is, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. (Jeremiah 6:16)

As you Walk, the Way appears. (Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Rūmi)

In our Journey of Life, there exists a delicate thread that guides us—our Soul. Much like a river finding its way to the sea, our Soul instinctively seeks the place where it truly belongs. This journey, though sometimes winding and unpredictable, is a vital part of our personal growth and fulfillment.

From the moment we are born, our Souls enter on a quest for Belonging. Though we may not always recognize it, the choices we make, the paths we follow, and the passions we pursue are gently influenced by this inner pull.

There are times when this journey leads us through stormy weather and dense forests, but even in these moments of uncertainty, our Soul is steadily guiding us.

Listening to your Soul requires tenderness and openness. It asks us to attune ourselves to the quiet whispers within and to the experiences that resonate deeply. When we honor these feelings, we align ourselves with our True Purpose.

This journey is unique for each of us. The common thread is the sense of peace and fulfillment that comes from being in the right place, surrounded by the right people.

Imagine our Soul as a butterfly, delicately flitting from flower to flower, until it finds the perfect blossom. This pull is not about external validation or societal expectations. It’s about finding what genuinely resonates with your Inner Self. Trust in this process, and have faith that your Soul knows where it belongs. Embrace the journey, and you will find yourself drawn to the places and experiences that are meant for you.

In the end, the journey of our Soul is about discovering and embracing the truth of who you are. Like a tree that grows toward the sun, it’s about finding your place in the cosmos and living a life that is authentically yours. Trust the pull of your Soul—it will always lead you Home.

(from wildwomansisterhood)

Fear, Freedom and Pluralism

"We must believe not only that all people are created equal but also that all peoples are created equal." (Natan Sharansky)

Pluralism demands that we celebrate our world’s remarkable diversity of cultures and religions. But does pluralism require that we tolerate tyrannical forms of government, religious beliefs that promote violence and oppression, cultures that suppress human freedom?

Sharansky offers us an answer. While the U.S. Declaration of Independence speaks of the equality of all people—“all men are created equal”—Sharansky expands this idea to all peoples.

On the one hand, the equality of peoples supports the principle of pluralism. There is a self-evident, inalienable right for each people group within our world of nations to develop and sustain its own unique culture and national identity.

On the other hand, the very right of equality also requires of each people group that it values and upholds fundamental human dignity and civil rights by governing itself through some form of democracy.

Fear societies that govern through terror and tyranny need to be replaced by free societies that give voice and vote to the equality of people and peoples.

By defending the freedom of peoples, Sharansky also legitimates the national rights and aspirations of each and every people and country. Sharansky challenges us to promote personal freedom and advance peace among peoples.

שיהיה כך בזמננו
فليكن كذلك في عصرنا
May it be so in our time