In talking about becoming soul-centered, it is important for us to discuss what we mean by the “soul.” As I mentioned Sunday, for me, the soul is the most essential part of you - the part of you which remains undiminished despite the failings of your physical self. It is the most authentic part of you - the you that you are when you aren’t pretending, aren’t trying to be someone or something else. I believe that essence of you is the image of God in you. Genesis 1:27 says that each of us is created in God’s image: “So God created humankind in God’s image. In God’s image God created them; male and female, God created them.”
So, if the depths of our souls are reflections of the God From Whom we come, then growing more in touch with our own souls brings us more in touch with God as well. As Richard Rohr writes: “The discovery of our deepest self and the discovery of God are the same discovery… The discovery of our own soul is frankly what we are here for. Your soul is who you are in God and who God is in you.”
This is a fundamentally different point of view than is taken by some traditional Christian teachings. Especially in Western Christianity, the idea of “Original Sin” - that human beings, at our very essence, are fallen and unworthy creatures - became foundational in many theologies. That idea gets tied back to the disobedience of Adam & Eve in eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in Genesis 3. But is that really a story about the inherent sinfulness of humanity? I think it may actually be a story that is more about what we might call “original shame” than “original sin.” After eating of the fruit, Adam & Eve hide from God because they are aware of their nakedness and ashamed. Note, their nakedness is not new in the story; what is new is their shame about their nakedness. And while there are negative consequences for their disobedience, soon thereafter God fashions clothing for them. In compassion, God protects them from their shame. Far from being a story about God casting humanity into the depths of hell for all eternity due to their sinfulness, this story reveals God drawing near to us even when we screw up… because we are God’s, created in the image of the Divine, and therefore worthy of love and compassion. This is more about Original Blessing than Original Sin.
Becoming soul-centered is not about a list of ‘spiritual’ things you must do to ‘become a better person.’ It begins with recognizing who you are, created in God’s image. At least in part, it is about learning to love yourself, so you can be yourself.
Prayer for the day: Lord, I am made in your image. Help me to more fully love You by more fully loving and accepting myself.