Before the mystics went platinum, they were just a cover band. Jesus and the Pretenders reminds us that we all start out clumsy, copying the moves until Presence makes them real.
One thing, among many, I appreciated when I was working a 12-Step program was the phrase, fake it till you make it. That community understands that we have to struggle with spirituality. While we may be, a C. S. Lewis describes us in *The Screwtape Letters* as "amphibians" half-human half-spiritual, that humaness is strong. 12-Step folk understand that no matter how deeply you have worked the steps, on any given day, you might be back at Step 1 and you life has become unmanageable. Faking it isn't a problem. There's always someone else's program you can try on for a bit until you can work thr steps for yourself.
Oh Janee, I just love that. Just finished my weekly AA mediation meeting & so much of what you wrote rang true & I really needed to hear it again. Thanx so much for those lovely examples. I need them. I will always need them. My life can become unmanageable in a nano-second. Gratitude xo
“Imitation isn’t fraud. It’s training wheels for transformation.” My reminder that I am not suffering from “imposter syndrome”, I am a work in progress.
That was a fun song. 💃 Had me tapping my foot. VMB, I bought a book that you recommend by Cynthia. Got it in Audible so that her words can soothe my poor worried mind into peace. Thank you for all that you do to bring happiness to our world.
My ancestors built boats (the name is a clue) and you'd be an apprentice for decades before you became the wright, the master builder. Like mysticism you had to start with imitation (after proving you could clean up, make tea, fetch tools etc) and it didn't come easy, work and correction, work and correction until you were trusted with the simplest pieces. Youd always have a mate who was a skilled builder to work alongside to guide you in your work. The.cycle would continue, constant work and the refinement of correction.
I was never apprenticed as a boat builder and I'm not really a mystic (more of a weird poet) but your words VMB give me hope that those who choose mysticism have a wise guide.
This was a brilliant read. I understand that poor beginnings are holy ground. It will be freeing for many readers to know that God delights in the unsteady wobbles as much as the stillness.
Heh! Imitation is /how babies learn/! They don't have any clues what they're doing (other than a wee bit of instinct), so they have to learn by watching, by listening (Robert Fulghum's advice on parenting includes, "Don't worry that they don't listen to you. Worry that they're /always watching you/."), by fumbling around trying to do what their parents do, say, like, etc.
I've heard (and seen, in personal witness) that the more intense a relationship a child has with their parent(s)/parental figures/etc., they generally fall into one of two camps: one, if the experience was traumatic, they'll do anything they can to be 180 degrees the opposite; two, they'll turn out just like the more intense parent ("My boy was just like me... :-/" --"Cats in the Cradle," Harry Chapin).
As for "Spirit in the Sky," I've always loved the early 1970s Christian rock music; they seemed so joyous! So happy! :D They didn't want to hold a GUN or other weapon to someone's head and insist they worship the Prince of Peace "RIGHT NOW OR ELSE!", they just wanted to share their joy with others and hope that others would groove with them. :) I really hope the grand majority of them stayed that way, like hopeful, happy students, learning what joy there could be in learning even more day by day, and didn't age and calcify into the people who turned their "discovery" of Christ into a brick wall to keep everyone else out, or a brick to the face. :(
Great post! Very engaging and wise! May the light eventually shine through those self-acknowledged clumsy pretenders who diligently and patiently make the effort to deepen their spiritual awareness. 🙏🙏🙏
Oh God, the Pretenders! One of THE best rock punk bands ever fronted by a woman who scared half of the male groupies away. Impactful because that band was just the opposite of the Holy Knockoff Factory that i faithfully followed, dancing in front of the mirror with a hairbrush microphone to Janis Joplin records. And then the Pretenders. No enlightened sage here. I always knew I was the least spiritual most clueless of the bunch. Stopped even trying to pretend….thats when faking it appeared & appealed & as I actually won a few auditions & faked my way into theatre that just grew. Until it stopped & the clumsiness took over as my getting older & (supposedly but not really) wiser didn’t. I could dance like a maniac with rhythm & finess until the crescendo hit & I’d try the high kick & fall on my ass. Same with gymnastics, orchestra kazoo solo, rock climbing…..
I cackled at at least every other paragraph - itz so funny because itz so all TRUE. And I’m super happy about that. Love ending my day laughing & this time didn’t even have to make an effort trying.🤣😂😅
One thing, among many, I appreciated when I was working a 12-Step program was the phrase, fake it till you make it. That community understands that we have to struggle with spirituality. While we may be, a C. S. Lewis describes us in *The Screwtape Letters* as "amphibians" half-human half-spiritual, that humaness is strong. 12-Step folk understand that no matter how deeply you have worked the steps, on any given day, you might be back at Step 1 and you life has become unmanageable. Faking it isn't a problem. There's always someone else's program you can try on for a bit until you can work thr steps for yourself.
Oh Janee, I just love that. Just finished my weekly AA mediation meeting & so much of what you wrote rang true & I really needed to hear it again. Thanx so much for those lovely examples. I need them. I will always need them. My life can become unmanageable in a nano-second. Gratitude xo
Great stuff! Thanks! I have always found "Acting as if" to be a very effective strategy in many areas of life including faith.
“Imitation isn’t fraud. It’s training wheels for transformation.” My reminder that I am not suffering from “imposter syndrome”, I am a work in progress.
Yes, thank you for keeping it real!
That was a fun song. 💃 Had me tapping my foot. VMB, I bought a book that you recommend by Cynthia. Got it in Audible so that her words can soothe my poor worried mind into peace. Thank you for all that you do to bring happiness to our world.
My ancestors built boats (the name is a clue) and you'd be an apprentice for decades before you became the wright, the master builder. Like mysticism you had to start with imitation (after proving you could clean up, make tea, fetch tools etc) and it didn't come easy, work and correction, work and correction until you were trusted with the simplest pieces. Youd always have a mate who was a skilled builder to work alongside to guide you in your work. The.cycle would continue, constant work and the refinement of correction.
I was never apprenticed as a boat builder and I'm not really a mystic (more of a weird poet) but your words VMB give me hope that those who choose mysticism have a wise guide.
Great song, George Harrison's was my favorite:
https://youtu.be/04v-SdKeEpE
YOGA nearly killed me. Dai Ji Chuan is less rigid & MORE " forgiving ". I do meditate while listening to streaming chants from various traditions.
Love the throwback song... and the wise words
This was a brilliant read. I understand that poor beginnings are holy ground. It will be freeing for many readers to know that God delights in the unsteady wobbles as much as the stillness.
Thank you my friend 🙏
Heh! Imitation is /how babies learn/! They don't have any clues what they're doing (other than a wee bit of instinct), so they have to learn by watching, by listening (Robert Fulghum's advice on parenting includes, "Don't worry that they don't listen to you. Worry that they're /always watching you/."), by fumbling around trying to do what their parents do, say, like, etc.
I've heard (and seen, in personal witness) that the more intense a relationship a child has with their parent(s)/parental figures/etc., they generally fall into one of two camps: one, if the experience was traumatic, they'll do anything they can to be 180 degrees the opposite; two, they'll turn out just like the more intense parent ("My boy was just like me... :-/" --"Cats in the Cradle," Harry Chapin).
As for "Spirit in the Sky," I've always loved the early 1970s Christian rock music; they seemed so joyous! So happy! :D They didn't want to hold a GUN or other weapon to someone's head and insist they worship the Prince of Peace "RIGHT NOW OR ELSE!", they just wanted to share their joy with others and hope that others would groove with them. :) I really hope the grand majority of them stayed that way, like hopeful, happy students, learning what joy there could be in learning even more day by day, and didn't age and calcify into the people who turned their "discovery" of Christ into a brick wall to keep everyone else out, or a brick to the face. :(
Thanks, I needed this.
Great post! Very engaging and wise! May the light eventually shine through those self-acknowledged clumsy pretenders who diligently and patiently make the effort to deepen their spiritual awareness. 🙏🙏🙏
Oh God, the Pretenders! One of THE best rock punk bands ever fronted by a woman who scared half of the male groupies away. Impactful because that band was just the opposite of the Holy Knockoff Factory that i faithfully followed, dancing in front of the mirror with a hairbrush microphone to Janis Joplin records. And then the Pretenders. No enlightened sage here. I always knew I was the least spiritual most clueless of the bunch. Stopped even trying to pretend….thats when faking it appeared & appealed & as I actually won a few auditions & faked my way into theatre that just grew. Until it stopped & the clumsiness took over as my getting older & (supposedly but not really) wiser didn’t. I could dance like a maniac with rhythm & finess until the crescendo hit & I’d try the high kick & fall on my ass. Same with gymnastics, orchestra kazoo solo, rock climbing…..
I cackled at at least every other paragraph - itz so funny because itz so all TRUE. And I’m super happy about that. Love ending my day laughing & this time didn’t even have to make an effort trying.🤣😂😅