Bet You Didn't Know . . .

This is something I just found interesting. One of my favorite old church hymns is "Dear Lord and Father of Mankind," written by Quaker poet John Greenleaf Whittier. What I didn't know (and found out today) is that the hymn that I enjoy singing is only part of a larger poem called "The Brewing of Soma."

The poem is actually about trying to find spirituality, or God, by chemically inducing an "experience." It also seems to indicate that we cannot find God in some ecstatic "experience," but need to seek Him in stillness and quietness. I find this very relevant today as many are searching for "experience" over reflection and study.

Here's the Wiki link.

I am currently reading "Celebration of Discipline," which is also written by a Quaker. I am enjoying the study. It centers on spiritual disciplines (study, meditation, fasting, prayer, simplicity, etc.) and really learning how to be spiritual; something that is not taught or easily learned today.

I will still enjoy singing this hymn, but will now think of it in slightly different terms.