Brian’s Reflection: Friday, January 4, 2008



Don't wait for the last judgment - it takes place every day.

- Albert Camus, philosopher, who died on this day
in a car accident, 1960


Camus understood. As did Plato. As did Jesus. As did Jung. As have many. “Archetypes” (a typical, ideal, or classic example of something - Encarta Dictionary) are daily realities writ large. “God” is an archetype of the mystery of Life found in all things. “Heaven” is an archetype of the Life Energy that never ceases. “The Body and Blood of Christ” is an archetype of the divine energy that sustains the heart of Life. “Satan” is the archetype of the mundane reality of evil choice and action. On and on it goes.

“The Last Judgment” is the archetype of the daily reality that we are judged by our behaviour as to the quality of our humanity. We are not to live our lives with furtive glances at a coming final judgment, hoping that we will manage to outwit the Judge. Rather, we are to live every day under the watchful eye of Compassion, of Kindness, of Generosity. At the quiet moment at every day’s end, or perhaps at any moment we make a decision, the Archetype of God the Judge blooms and shimmers before our eyes, holding out the scales upon which our character as a person is balanced. Every day, every day, “judgment” is a spirit shaping our growth in humanity.

Camus once said, “In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer”. Oh yes, we will survive the Judge. If we believe in the “invincible summer” of our divine beauty.

Our Life is assaulted in many ways and by many things. We are quick, we human beings, to damn ourselves - having been ill taught by mean-spirited religionists. But Jesus teaches a different standard. We are the Imago Dei. This is the “invincible summer”.

Nothing can overcome it. The “imago dei” is the archetype of the human person.

Never forget it. Thus remembering, you, we, will rise every day letting drop the burden of condemnation, and rise with healing in our wings to soar on the lightwinds of Trust.

What a World we could remake!

Brian+