Honoring thy Father and Mother

 

Moses with the Ten Commandments (Picture: ArtsyBee, no copyright)

Some credit the Ten Commandments in the Book of Exodus as the basis of Western culture and values. For others, it is the pronouncements of a tyrannical and fictional deity.

Such skeptics may very well agree with commandments such as "thou shalt not kill" and "neither shalt thou steal" but do not believe individuals need to hear that from a higher power; humans are social animals and would not usually kill or steal anyway.

In his The Bible is a Trilogy (2023), filmmaker Alek Gearheart posits that the "spirit" of something is the truth behind it. I appreciate this definition. The "spirit" of a law is the intent behind it, even though the text of the law might not cover every situation. 

The "spirit" or truth of something is its metaphysical meaning.

Those who believe humans are, in essence, spiritual beings will see beyond the outer appearance and actions of a person to the "real" or "true" nature inside. In animal form, humans make mistakes, but our mistakes are not who we truly are. This is why non-judgment and forgiveness are taught in many religions.

Metaphysical interpretations of the Bible see its stories and laws as metaphors for our spiritual selves. As within, so without. Even the Ten Commandments themselves suggest that it is about spirituality. This is revealed in the Tenth Commandment, "Thou shalt not covet…" which is wholly unenforceable in civil society. 

I suggest "Thou shalt not covet" means "you will not covet because you do not covet." Your inner, true, spiritual self does not covet. Neither is your true self a thief or a murderer. 

I've forgotten what I was reading or watching, but I started thinking about how this applies to the Fifth Commandment: "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." (Exodus 20:12) 

This commandment is all well and good for this earthly plane. Whether they were biological parents or not, it is both fitting and recommended to love and care for those who have loved and cared for you.

But there's more to it. Who is more likely to look after your best interests, your loving parents or the kids at school? Your parents or your overworked teachers? Your parents or your boss?

Your human parents may make lots of mistakes. They might be misinformed about a lot of things. To honor them doesn't mean you have to do what they say; you don't owe them anything. But you might want to honor them by at least listening to them. Always remember that they provided for you and these other people didn't.

For a metaphysical meaning of the Fifth Commandment, I'm borrowing from the concepts of Neville Goddard and others.

In the realm of consciousness, your imagination is your "father" and your subconscious and intuitive mind is your "mother." The father imagines a desire is fulfilled (what is "best for you"), and then the "mother" executes this intention by directing you to take the steps that feel right. Sometimes you will be spurred to take immediate action; other times you might feel led to do nothing and the thing you desire just comes to you. 

That's because this subconscious mind, or mother, is the all-knowing, omnipotent God and is connected to everything even though the individualized mind (seemingly lodged in the brain) often feels disconnected from everything else. 

Faith is the conviction that this "Holy Mother" knows best. Every laws-of-science-defying miracle, every synchronicity, every fortuitous circumstance comes from the "father" within you imagining it is done, and the "mother" bringing it to manifestation through visible and invisible means.

To honor this spiritual "father and mother" is to let go of all doubt, worry, and impatience and to rejoice that what you ask for will be given to you. If your desire is one thing, but then you second-guess yourself, your holy mother will receive mixed signals. It is faith that makes you well. (Mark 5:34) You must believe if you are to receive. (Mark 11:24)

Great achievers listen to this mother-father God within themselves, even if they don't consciously realize it or even believe in the idea of God. They believe in themselves regardless of what others may say. They "judge not by appearances" (John 7:24); they don't waver due to outer conditions. Metaphysically, they are obeying the Fifth Commandment.

You are a spiritual being, a "child of God." To have faith in yourself is to have faith in God.

James Leroy Wilson writes The MVP Chase (subscribe) and JL Cells (subscribe) and is a monthly columnist at Meer. Thank you for your subscriptions and support! You may contact James for your writing, editing, research, or any other kind of work: jamesleroywilson-at-gmail.com.