“What is your love-hate of the bible like? What shall I compare it to?”

It is like a sophisticated constructed technically perfect intergalactic rocket launching control system, in which no rocket is ever launched. It is examined and re-examined, yet few ever think to actually fly.

Again he asked, “What shall I compare your love-hate of the bible to?”

It is like a golden idol you caress and examine for blemishes, it is an argued over precious-worthless living-lifeless icon held up so that all can bend their knee – or turn their back.

– – – – – – – – –

Biblegateway says there are 1,028 uses of “I am” in the NIV bible. In the (authorised) KJV there are 742 occasions. In The Message there are 442 occasions.

In some circles Yawheh cannot be written.  Yaweh is redacted.  God is redacted!

I find that a superstition too far.

Yet in other circles “I Am” has the same reverence attached – “I Am” is God – and I (and you) are not. “I Am” is used in hushed reverent tones.  We redact any reference to ourselves.

I think we redact me and you when we redact God in the bible.

How come we are so good at redacting?   And how come we prefer redacting the bible (but then filling in the blanks ourselves)?   And is that why we have a love-hate relationship with the bible?  Is it easier to blank out “bits”  – and fill in the gaps – and then argue about who is right and who is wrong?

I think it must be.

It seems our preference is to see this “sophisticated constructed technically perfect intergalactic rocket launching control system, in which no rocket is ever launched” as prophesying a life of eternity to come – of showing an “intergalactic home” for us saved believers once we die – or “pass” – as it has become known.  But for today?

More a (redacted) rulebook of duty – an obligation of intellect. 

I immerse myself in the bible and “I am” … I am free.  I am loved.  I am living.  I am me.  I am always me for I cannot be anyone but me.  I am free to see the bible not as words but as breathing.  I am free to sense the bible not as paper but as clothing.  I am free to ingest the bible as I ingest the fuel of living.  I am me and always will be.

For why would I want to be anyone else?

For me the bible allows, empowers, invites, intrigues, confuses, illustrates, cautions, beckons, warns, enables and frees me.  I am of the bible and the bible is of me.  But please don’t tell me I should know the blueprints and architecture, I should decide the literal or figurative, I must evidence the fact or fiction.  For that influences who I am not to be – who I am not to become.  That grounds me for eternity.  That cloaks me in mortality.

That shields me from possibility.

– – – – – – – – –

“What is the bible like? What shall I compare it to?”

It is a story of life and living, it is a fire to the spirit, it is a balm of the weary, it is succour for the searching.  It is not a word or The Word, for those four letters restrict and belittle you and me … belittles-bigs up what is within … causes us to redact-revere … to intellect-debate … to distance-divide all. 

Again he asked, “What shall I compare the bible to?”

Me and you.  I am and you are.  We can and we should.  Right now right here.  There is no them and us, no us or them.  There is only I am.  In all.

Maybe.

.