Omnos' Truth

As many of you know, I've been away on a journey, along with a few of Halvenspring's sons. We traveled to the East. Along the way, we encountered some wonders - strange new sights, both beautiful and terrifying. For the most part, however, I learned that the similarities we share with others outweigh our differences. The world is peopled with folks who find safety and strength in each other. They form towns and villages, trade services, share their joys and sorrows, and generally make life better for each other. I consider myself very lucky to have come from such a town. I love that I am from a place with its own traditions and memories. What I love most of all about Halvenspring, though, is that it is a receptive town. The Sycamores have been in Halvenspring for several generations. The Risus', the Dragomirs, the Sosyls - they found us one, two, or three generations ago. More recently, we welcomed Klaus Steelpick. Instead of closing our community off to new members, we welcome them, and we are often rewarded.

I owe my existence to this attitude. If Halvenspring were not such a friendly, welcoming place, my mother would have never met my father. I am truly Halvenspring's son. So I guess it makes sense that Linna Sycamore could be considered Halvenspring's mother, or at least she has been for every person who grew up in our church. My mother, at some point in your lives, has probably managed you in a bake sale, led your Libram studies group, or stitched some essential textile in your household. When I remember to keep an open mind, I get that from her. I love my mother.

Love. Along with joy, it's one of the primary things we understand about Omnos. These are his gifts to us. But do we understand these gifts?

What is love? Love is a value that we place on existence. When I say "I love you," it means "I value your existence." When we value the existence of something, we want it to persist, and we want it to persist because through it's persistence, we can continue to know it. Nonexistence is unknown to us. The best we can do is attempt to imagine it, but without the benefit of perception, we quickly become lost. It is outside of our reach. Therefore, when we value something - a person, a place, an idea - we are desiring for it to exist, so that it stays within our ability to know it.

What is joy? It's not equivocal to happiness, although they have much in common. A freshly baked biscuit, hot and buttery and warm from the oven, that can make me happy. But that happiness is like catching a cool breeze on a summer day - it's fleeting, it's not meant to last. Joy is a happiness that is much deeper, from within your heart. Joy is a feeling we get when things are right. And what do I mean by right? Remember that the world is not perfectly according to the plan of Omnos. Scripture informs us that the world is flawed. Every now and then, however, we experience a part of the world that is in line with Omnos' plan, and our hearts experience a natural reaction to seeing his perfect work. That reaction - that's joy. It's a positive energy that is so visceral, you feel it flowing throughout your body.

Isn't that something?

Omnianism preaches love and joy.
Omnos, creator of the world, provides value, and his value is positive.

It does not require any extraordinary leap of faith to know Omnos exists. His work is evident in the miracles he works through us, and through the emissaries that he sends to us. It requires faith to believe that Omnos is the creator of everything, that no other being known to us or otherwise approaches his power, and that he will deliver upon his promise to collect us from the Hall of the Silent Lady at the end of all things.

Oftentimes, the faithful believe that we are limited by what is still contained within the Mystery. For contemporary Omnians, one of our challenges is to remain open and available as new information from the Mystery is revealed to us. Omnos, in his wisdom, has revealed to us information from which we have derived only a few central tenants, with much left open to interpretation or, in some cases, speculation. Interpretation is our privilege as Omnos' creations - speculation less so. Do not fear the change that new discoveries bring, but be wary of drawing hasty conclusions without evidence. Remember that the world is not according to Omnos' plan - we are working to get back to his perfect design. There will be those who seek to take advantage of these flaws. They will wrap their own beliefs in Omnian cloth, but if you pay close attention, you will see that some logical leap is required, something the scripture does not support. Be independent thinkers - don't presume to let the clergy dictate your beliefs to you. Instead, let us be your resource of information and guidance, and become your own sages and scholars. Any priest who tells you otherwise likely has ulterior motives.

Most importantly, continue to live your lives. Love and cherish each other. Find joy in the truth, and appreciate it the way one might appreciate a wildflower in the midst of a field of weed and clover. Your keen eye will discover the ways Omnos introduces his design into the world.