(Today’s post is submitted by Zac Wine, who continues to challenge my thinking.)

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I don’t capitalize god. I also don’t capitalize him/his/he when I reference god. God is not a name; god is a concept.

A really, really big concept.

Think about this: if you say the word “god,” what does it sound like way down deep in your throat? Or better, how does it sound way down deep in your soul? When you experience the vibration of god, how does it feel in your gut? God, as a sound, has a certain appeal. It’s abstract and intangible like god should be.

On the other hand, when god is manifested in our reality, his name is a materialization of the sound and he has many names—Yahweh, Jehovah, Elohim, Shiva, Vishnu, Brahman, Allah, Jesus…. I capitalize these because I appreciate the idea of the vocalization of god; the sound or vibration of god.

What does pronunciation of Yahweh bring to mind? What does the sound of Elohim make you think of? How does the sound of Jesus make you feel? How does Jesus with the Spanish pronunciation (hey-soos) make you feel? The idea of G-O-D is over-used in our culture and is too misunderstood to break it down as a sound. However god’s manifestations are far easier and more interesting to think about and feel.

I might argue that the name Jesus has too many connotations to be included in the list. Is he the son of god? Too much ego involved in that argument. I’d like to discuss it with Jesus himself—about his name and his source—and and get an answer directly from him that didn’t involve the Romans or Pharisees.

If you want to capitalize god, go right ahead. For me, it feels like I give him much more respect when I treat him non-egotistically; non-human. So with appreciation and honor to him/it/them, I don’t capitalize god.

With respect to god,
Zac Wine

I heard this song on the radio and it struck me as interesting. I’m not necessarily a fan of Nickelback, but the words got me to thinking. (Odd. Since I rarely pay much attention to the words.)

If I knew this was my last day in this life, I don’t think I wouldn’t change a thing.

Happy with today,
David Wine

I wonder if the Universe has a personality; an identity with values I can understand—like respect, integrity, discernment, encouragement….

In my last blog I faltered—suggesting I have limited capability to comprehend infinity. Shortly after I posted the blog, I received an email from my niece, gently refuting me with a simple challenge: “I think you need to expand your consciousness to infinity.”

“OK.” I offered. “Got any suggestions for how to do that?”

She reminded me of the simple advice from the sage Jonathan Livinston Seagull.

Decide I can.
Choose it to be.
And it is.

Just let go of everything and it will come to you.

(Thanks Amanda.)

Gratefully,
David Wine