These
two words are not normally found together: Tao and Trump. You are much more
likely to find the words Evangelical and Trump linked. But both the Donald and the
Dao (the Pinyin spelling of Tao) have been on my mind for a while now.
The Tao has held an important place in my thinking since I
first discovered the Chinese philosophical classic, the Tao Te Ching, back in
college. At that time I took courses on both Chinese Philosophy and Chinese
language, where we studied and had to translate portions of the Tao Te Ching.
The Tao Te Ching has continued to be a part of my spiritual
life even after my conversion to Christianity and my commitment to Jesus Christ.
I do not find the two contradictory but complementary. In recent years I have led
a discussion group on the Tao Te Ching at our local Dragonfly Yoga Barn, I published my
own Christian version of the Tao Te Ching entitled The Tao of Christ,
and I started a podcast with
the same name.
More recently I have begun listening to a new podcast
entitled “A Christian Reads the Tao
te Ching” by Corey Farr, who uses my translation among others. He has even invited me to do soundbites for his
podcast. I highly recommend it. Finally the Methodist church in Moultonborough where I worship is holding a weekly study of the Tao Te Ching, using Diane Dreher’s book
The
Tao of Inner Peace as the text.
So the Tao and the Tao Te Ching have been on my mind a lot
recently. Donald Trump has also been on my mind because of the Democratic
primary and the looming presidential election in November. The question I face is
how to bring these two seemingly contrary concerns into some type of harmony in
my mind and heart.
I confess that my thoughts and feelings about the 45th
president of the United States are not very Tao-like or Christian. I confess
that I get angry. At such times I try to heed the admonition of scripture: “Be
angry, but do not sin. And do not let the sun go down on your anger.” I do not
always succeed. The same with Jesus’ commands to love your enemies, pray for
those who persecute you, and forgive 70 times 7 times. I went past number 490
long ago.
Here is where the Taoist concept of yin and yang helps. The
world is full of good and evil, right and wrong, love and hate. The famous
chapter of Ecclesiastes teaches the same thing from a Hebrew perspective: “For
everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven.”
Then comes its familiar list of opposites: “a time to be born
and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a
time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a
time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, ... a time to be silent and
a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time
for peace.”
When I view Trump’s presidency in this context I can
understand it as part of the natural balance of opposites in the universe and
in human history. Then I can glimpse the higher unity and the deeper harmony
that exists at all times. The oneness that is the essential nature of God and
human beings shows its face to me.
Then the words of Christian mystic Julian of Norwich reassure
me: “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be
well.” This is the teaching of the Tao Te Ching and my Christian faith. This is
the Sovereign God who “works all things together for good.” This is Tao that
somehow includes Donald Trump in a higher purpose…. But I am still voting for
the Democrat in November.
Posts
