The last advice my dad gave me before he left this world was, “Stick to your guns, always. Even when you’re wrong, stick to your guns.” I promised him that I would and a few days after my promise, my dad passed to the next life, leaving me with more questions than answers. The biggest question I had then and still have now is: How in the heck can I stick to my guns when this world just doesn’t let me?
What are my guns to which I should be sticking? Well, my primary gun is my deeply held belief in the Imago Dei. That is, I believe that the Image of God permeates all living things and is the force that drives all action, both in the physical world and in the spiritual world. The trouble I run into, though, is that, while I am certain that the Imago Dei is real and active, my day-to-day life shrouds my belief, all too often.
Without reservation, all of humanity should honor the Imago Dei. Honoring and respecting the Imago Dei can and should be done through honoring each other. We don’t all have to like each other. Nor should we all suppress our emotions and pretend to love one another equally. While Jesus taught that loving others is the highest expression of love of God, this love, to me, it’s a goal that only saints can achieve. Humanity is far too self-serving to even strive for universal love. But we all share this spinning rock and whether or not we like it, we should hold each other with at least basic respect and try to see that the Image of God exists in others, just as it exists in ourselves.
Now, I am NOT talking about religion. I don’t like religion, but I do respect that many people hold their religion with the highest regard. When I speak of honoring each other, I mean that we should do so in every aspect of our daily lives. We should at least attempt to see that others do the best they can, within their own knowledge and life experiences.
I struggle in seeing this, sometimes, especially when I perceive enemies who work against my efforts. Although we all have enemies, both perceived and actual, their existence on this rock is no less important than our own. Our enemies have their path that they must follow and their karma is theirs alone. Even Jesus had Judas. But had Judas not fulfilled his destiny, then Jesus couldn’t have fulfilled his. I sometimes get lost in the intensity of my emotions. I was born and bred a fighter and my initial and automatic response to slights is to fight with raw and intense anger.
Whether I should or shouldn’t have better control of my fighting instincts isn’t really the point. What I promised my dad was that I would stick to what I believe, no matter what, right or wrong. In the year and a half since he left, I have come to see what I actually promised: If someone has wronged me, I will stick to my belief in the Imago Dei and and respect that, even if their actions hurt me and my family, their karma is theirs and whatever motivated them to act against me was part of their path. It’s my path to accept the events and learn from them, however I can.
I do struggle to keep my promise. But I know my dad is with me and I hope he knows I try to stick to my guns. I believe in the Imago Dei and I must fulfill that belief, even when it’s inconvenient. It is challenging, but a promise is a promise.
