Many Cups

A few weeks ago we looked back on a conversation that I had with Barbara Brown Taylor early in 2020.  I wrote about in the AfterParty newsletter, but I wanted to share it here too because not everyone who reads the blog is subscribed to the newsletter.

(You should be, though.  Because, why not?!)

Anyways, I love Barbara. I’ve had the opportunity to talk to A LOT of my faith heroes over these last 3 years …

Brian McLaren.

NT Wright.

Diana Butler Bass.

Shane Claiborne.

Bart Ehrman.

… But I think Barbara is probably one of the kindest and most genuine people I’ve ever spoken to. Everyone has been amazing, don’t get me wrong. And everyone has been genuine and kind and helpful and encouraging. I haven’t had one conversation with a podcast guest who has made me feel insecure, inferior, or anything like that. 

But, Barbara.

Barbara Brown Taylor (BBT!) is just … Barbara. It’s hard to capture her spirit in words, you just kind of have to experience her for yourself.

I’m grateful to have had that opportunity and hope that this episode gave you a taste of that.

But what I most appreciate about Barbara is her story as told in Holy Envy. I’ve read all of her books, they are all on a shelf right behind me. But Holy Envy was something extra special as she talks about the religions of the world and how although she always “comes home to Jesus at night”, she loves to explore and appreciate the different aspects of the different religions of the world.

Judaism.

Buddhism.

Hinduism.

Etc.

Etc.

Etc.

Richard Rohr once said that if God is a stream flowing through the wilderness, the religions of the world are like cups filled with water from that stream.

I hold the cup of Christianity and I’ve filled my cup by dipping it into the stream.

Maybe you hold the cup of Buddhism and you, too, have filled your cup by dipping it into the stream.

Hindus dip their cup into the stream.

Jews dip their cup.

… And so on and so forth.  We’ve all dipped our cup into the stream. BUT. How ridiculous would it be if I turned and said to you or to everyone at the stream, “Behold! See my cup? I have the water - the only source of water! - that can quench the thirst of the world! You must drink from my cup or you will thirst forever.”

That would be insane, right?

Because.

Well.

Not only are YOU holding your own cup filled with water from the same stream I filled my cup from … but the stream is right in front of us and it’s bubbling and gushing with more water than we would ever know what to do with.

God is the stream.

Our religion or faith system is the cup.

And when we try to force our cup on someone else.

Then we diminish their cup.

Barbara challenged me to appreciate the cups that other people hold and to honor the experiences that others have in their own search for the Divine.  She taught me to not be so cocky in thinking that I have all the answers and that my thoughts are superior to the thoughts of others.

Christians have done this for centuries. Right?  “Our way or the highway! Turn or burn! Follow Christ, turn you back on the religion of your family, your culture, etc. Foresake it all and join us!”

She taught me to Namaste, really - she taught me how to allow the Spirit in me to honor the Spirit in you and everyone else in the world.

Because …

We’re all on a journey.

We’re all holding cups.

And we’re all standing at the edge of the stream.

You may take a small taste from my cup.

I may take a small taste from yours.

My cup might quench my thirst.

Your cup might quench yours.

But one day.

ONE DAY.

We will all jump into the stream and swim together.

And what a glorious day it will be.

Much love,

Glenn Siepert