“If”
“I want you to achieve what I never achieved; I want you to be somebody in the eyes of the world, so that I too can be somebody through you. Don’t disappoint me. I sacrificed so much for you. My disapproval of you is intended to make you feel so guilty and uncomfortable that you finally conform to my wishes. And it goes without saying that I know what’s best for you. I love you and I will continue to love you if you do what I know is right for you.”
The above is from “A New Earth”, by Eckart Tolle, Chapter 4, Role-playing: The Many Faces of the Ego. This portion of the chapter deals with parenthood and the role our ego sometimes plays in being a parent, rather than simply just being who we are.
"….IF you do what I know is right for you."
As I read it this morning it dawned on me just how representative it is of how we have been taught to think of God and as a result we do often relate to our own children in the same way. I did. Thank God I do no more.
Bruce often points out that we will behave as we perceive God…or “I only do what I see my Father doing”. So true. Society, influenced heavily by the performance based thinking of religious thought has given us a vision of God that cause us to perceive Him in such a way as Tolle describes and causes us to relate to our own children in exactly the same way and I did so for way too many years.
Especially in America, we seem to have this idea that God never really ruled the world and we must do so in proxy for Him. The kingdom of God will have come when “God’s nation” rules. We, as one nation under God, must put down the evil doers and establish government and we do so in His name. JP Manza just posted an interesting link to a post on the various Military Bibles being offered by a popular Christian book chain in America.
It is funny that so many think that God can’t rule apart from them. No it’s not funny, its ridiculous.
God does know what is best for us….and He provided it for us in the person of His Son, who is now a life giving Spirit, not a manipulative, demand oriented spirit. God does not love us IF anything. He loves us period and His Kingdom is already well established and He needed none of our help to do it. It was done when His Son fulfilled all of His will.
So the next time you feel guilty and uncomfortable know that it is not coming from God, but from your own mind, twisted to think that that God plays the same egoiac roles that our foolish minds have been taught to play. He doesn’t. He is completely and totally secure in who He is, the “I Am”. Know that and be secure in Him and please do not feel the need to dominate anyone “for Him”, not even your children. And as Americans may we see that God doesn’t need for us to dominate the world for Him either. He just wishes for us to rest in His unconditional Love.
“The above is from “A New Earth”, by Eckart Tolle”
Tolle’s “A New Earth” has got to be one of the best books I’ve ever read. Good to see someone else has read it as well.
Thanks for stopping by Drew. I checked out your site. Interesting stuff and I’ll be back.
Tolle is quite different in his way of thinking isn’t he?
I love Tolle’s stuff!.. It is so revealing to me. I read (and listened) to his books several times now….Think it’s time to do it all again!
Eckart Tolle’s audio book was excellant steve.I would like to read this book also, sounds interesting.
kenneth.
Love Eckart Tolle…great post Steve.
Especially in America, we seem to have this idea that God never really ruled the world and we must do so in proxy for Him. The kingdom of God will have come when “God’s nation” rules. We, as one nation under God, must put down the evil doers and establish government and we do so in His name…It is funny that so many think that God can’t rule apart from them. No it’s not funny, its ridiculous.
Indeed. I don’t understand dominionist Christians at all. They do have this mentality that for God to be in control of the United States–and even the world–that the rest of us must elect Christian politicians to office who subscribe to the conservative Christian agenda; and that then–and ONLY then–God will be in control. It’s like they’re praying “Our will be done…” instead of “YOUR (God’s) will be done…”.
Excellent post, Steve.