Dana Owens

Because we crave meaning, we often aspire to become people who are respected and praised by others. Yet, this desire can inadvertently lead us to chase after the exact same things the rest of the world is chasing.

Faith often emerges precisely when we cannot fully understand. Abraham walks up the mountain carrying both trust and anguish. He cannot see the outcome, yet he continues forward, trusting his God.

According to Swedenborg, the purpose of the Bible is to lead people toward spiritual rebirth, or regeneration. For this reason, God embedded deeper truths within the literal stories of the Scripture.

We live as though we are in a permanent state of exile, struggling to find a way back to a lost sanctuary. However, the spiritual truth is more hopeful: the Garden planted by God is still there, nestled deeply within the quietest corners of the mind.