A Reading
For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only begotten Son, so that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but shall have eternal life. (John 3:16)
A Thought
Being precluded from physical activity by a leg injury, I found myself watching a documentary on Netflix called My Octopus Teacher. Its narrative gave me much to ponder regarding the reality, known and unknown, of the worlds in which we live.
The common octopus has 9 brains, one central and one in each tentacle. Each is independently cognitive and able to function independently or as directed by the central brain.
I thought of the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit – three in one. Surely not so abstract if a common octopus can manage nine in one.
The film followed a single octopus during its lifespan (no more than 2 years) during which it needs to teach itself how to survive, both self-defence from omnipresent predators and how to predate other creatures to feed itself. A tough existence, but within this ongoing challenge the common octopus makes time for repeated exploration, trust and interaction with human snorkel diver.
Our lives are busy, but do we make time to use our abundant cognitive abilities to explore and understand the spiritual presence that pervades our world? Yet a common octopus can establish within a much shorter lifespan a relationship with an unfamiliar occupant.
The octopus surrenders its life for a single birthing of eggs. Half a million will hatch, but only a handful will survive.
Is that an illustration of the sacrifice for each of us made by Jesus, but which only a few seem willing to benefit from?
The realisation formed by the snorkel diver is that, from the perspective of the octopus, we are not strangers in the octopus’ world but part of it.
Why do we have such difficulty in understanding and accepting that, from God’s perspective, we are not strangers in his Kingdom but part of it?
A song (The road home)
Tell me where is the road I can call my own;
that I left, that I lost, so long ago.
All these years I have wandered. Oh, when will I know
there’s a way, there’s a road, that will lead me home.
After wind, after rain, when the dark is done;
as I wake from a dream in the gold of day.
Through the air there’s a calling from far away.
There’s a voice I can hear that will lead me home.
Rise up, follow me, come away, is the call
with the love in your heart as the only song.
There is no such beauty as where you belong.
Rise up, follow me, I will lead you home.
End
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