We recently got HD TV and since the best thing, actually the only good thing IMHO, about HD is the nature programming I have been watching a number of programmes on the ocean. Almost all of them mention that we – that is the human we – have discovered only 5% of the oceanic world. New discoveries are being made all the time, particularly in the deep sea.

There was some fellow – whose name I can't remember as my memory is like the ocean, vast and unfathomable even to myself – but I do remember him saying that we go about exploring the deep sea in the wrong way: descending with noisy machinery and bright lights, thinking that disturbing a dark silent world will return results. He developed a vessel that travels quietly with minimal light and thus discovers a world not seen before, not because it was not there but because it fled from the blinding light.

We humans understand so little about our world and ourselves that whether we want to acknowledge it or not, we are all on a journey and the destination is unknown. If we can acknowledge this reality, perhaps we could prevent the absolutist blundering and the destruction of things we have not seen because we blind ourselves to the possibility of the unknown.

Also wanted to say, thank you David, this was a wonderful read.

This comment was posted on the United Church of Canada's Wondercafe in response to this essay by Linda

One thing I like about this metaphor as I meditate on it more is that I haven't come across many really good metaphors in my reading about process theology and panentheism. Metaphors, that is, that are very accessible and that aren't couched in pages of intellectual discussion. Yes, that kind of theology has a place, but if you want a theological position to be understood and accepted by a broader audience, intellectual discussions won't cut it. This one captures much of the essence of panentheism in a very simple and accessible image. And yet, it's not too simplistic, either. One can delve into it, finding new meanings in it and ways to explain various facets of faith with it.

This comment was posted on the United Church of Canada's Wondercafe in response to this essay by David

This comment was posted on the United Church of Canada's Wondercafe in response to this essay by "CrazyHeart"

It's the same with God – it is good to have a relationship that is "open" to travelling where the spirit or the call leads. Often we find God off the beaten path and are richer for that experience.

I really like your essay, David, and especially the ocean images, since being on oceans and some form of water – lakes, rivers, islands surrounded by water – has become an essential part of my life. Sometimes the seas are calm, sometimes they are in turmoil – like our relationship with God and each other.

This comment was posted on the United Church of Canada's Wondercafe in response to this essay by Arlene

Beauty essay, David. I especially liked:

"There aren’t many paths to God. Nor is there just one path to God. There is only learning about the limitless diversity in the ocean of Creation that is still only a partial expression of all that God is."

Beauty. If we are all waves in this great ocean of diversity, we are individual in a certain sense but in it together in an "ocean" sense…

This comment was posted on the United Church of Canada's Wondercafe in response to this essay by Penny

John.

That is a very good metaphor. In fact as I was reading your essay it donned on me that there is no destination, only journey. Time never stops so how can we have a destination? Destination implies accomplishment and finality. An End. There is no end of finality to time. And if the universe will continue to big bang and big crunch and big bang and big crunch then there will be no destination. Because time would effectively be infinite and so to would the journey be infinite. Which is totally in line with your metaphor. I also like your metaphor because like the ocean, our journies can be polluted.

This comment was posted on the United Church of Canada's Wondercafe in response to this essay by "Omni"

Well, if God does not exist, then neither many paths to God nor one path to God will lead to God. Then no path can possibly lead to the nonexistent God.

But what if God is ineffable or incomprehensible? What if, as in unitheism, everything is God? Then no path can possibly lead to God because we are God.

Getting IT

IT is we; we are IT.

We can't comprehend IT without experiencing IT,

But we can experience IT without comprehending IT—

For we are IT!

IT reveals everything;

IT explains nothing.

The interpretations

Of ITs revelations,

Are our creations.

This comment was posted on the United Church of Canada's Wondercafe in response to this essay by "Arminius"