Last night, I was reading the Journal of George Fox, free for download at https://www.friendslibrary.com/george-fox/journal. As I read about his early life and the trials and tribulations he experienced - including seeing those who professed to be Christians - I felt so connected with him. He used the word “professors” for these people and it felt the perfect term. As he struggled with interacting with them, I felt these same emotions - again.
I thought of this reading as I woke up an hour ago. I remembered the experience last night, I remembered the experiences of my young, I remembered one of my more recent spiritual insights. My first religious insight was at eight years of age and in 2023, almost 49 years later, I was still learning - still receiving instruction in The Way.
I was sitting in my spa one December summer morning, thinking of my mum, who had died the day before on Christmas day in her time zone. The spa is generally a place where I go to relax after a long bike ride or to prepare myself for the work day ahead. This morning, I was sad about the death of my mum and settled into the hot water thinking of her. I felt a sudden joy, knowing she was no longer in pain. I felt her presence, knowing she was no longer confined to a body. I felt an incredible sense of peace.
While I was experiencing this, I was open to The Spirit. I thought of what makes us who we are. I thought of the vegan path I had already been on for years. In an instant, I knew that the divine spark is sentience. All sentient life is the divine in the universe - the universe getting to know itself. When we destroy sentient life, we are destroying part of the divine. I wrote what I was thinking and emailed it to myself. The text is in the image, following.
After almost 49 years, to still be led by The Spirit! There is so much to learn and I am still a student.
Protect the divine in yourself by protecting the divine in the universe. Do no take the suffering and death of the divine into yourself through the murder of life created.
Even in her physical absence, my mother is still there with me, helping me along my way.
May all beings know peace!
Aroha nui,
Tūruapō ❣
30 Jul 2025, 09.04 (GMT +13)