paths up the mountain

 different paths, the same goal

the Jesus I know from the New Testament is unequivocal:

we should love others, just as we love ourselves,

his words don't dilly-dally,

they press us to love even our enemies,

to take care of any that might be deemed "lesser,"

to connect with children by caring

"for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven,"

is God in 3 persons? or not?

can revelation come clearly to any? or only to certain "elect"?

is there only one path to the Divine? or many?

such variety of answer far too often has led to death,

for we have convinced ourselves

that only the path that we are on is right,

and that the others have lost themselves to Satan,

thus damned be they whose truth stretches to where we don't want to go,

instead, I think our differences should reinforce our commonality,

each of our opinions matters for God made us each unique

and gifted us with free will, and we are united

in our hopes to be true to the most basic and real,

consider an international potluck:

the foods are different and find their own paths to our stomachs,

but each cuisine nurtures us

whether it be rice, or soy, or meat,

or a plethora of vegetables,

the way to our health can vary,

a truth that is expressed within the Hindu tradition:

a concept that God is at the top of a mountain

and that each religion is one path to the top,

we should celebrate any of us

who are working to ascend the mountain,

whatever the path that calls to us,

God does not care how we get there

as long as we carry love with us.

by Henry H. Walker

May 19, ‘26