God Vs. the Bible

The other day my mom sent me an email in regards to the Bible and "Gays." The reference is to God's disapproval with Homosexuality. Out of curiosity, I decided to look up the reference. 
"Leviticus 20:13 If a man also shall lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death."

Leviticus.

 "The Book of Leviticus is the third book of the Hebrew Bible, and the third of five books of the Torah. The English name is from the Latin Leviticus, taken in turn from Greek and a reference to the Levites, the tribe from whom the priests were drawn."

I was brought up on the Bible. I attended a Catholic School in my early years. To be honest, many of these passages have confused me, but I just let it be. Until today, when I really began looking at it with an openness. Leviticus is not the 'word of the Lord' nor the word of God. It is solely the word of Leviticus and his interpretation or perspective of circumstance. Just my take on what he is saying, it may have more to do with adultery than with homosexuality. That is only one interpretation, my perspective. Perspective is based on something very personal. Personal understandings, beliefs and teachings. 

I also find it very interesting that so many hold this quote and reference with such hatred. Yet, when it comes to adultery (or many other Bible references or claims), the same regard is not upheld. There are hundreds of examples of this. I recall a US Senator came forward about his extra-marital affairs, but with a man. The country was up in arms about the fact that he was gay. This so confused me. The fact that he committed adultery, to me, was the issue.  

In my bathroom, for many years, I have had a poster on the wall,  'Life's Little Instructions' by H. Jackson Brown Jr. To me, it is a gentle guidance, a remembrance to be nice, to be kind and loving to one another. This always seemed to reflect how God wanted us to commit to life. It is non-judgmental, thoughtful and kind. Years ago, I wanted to do research on the man the wrote this. He has long since passed away. His son has carried on in his fathers footsteps. Or so it would seem. He wrote a book based on his interpretation of his fathers words. I was saddened that, for me, it was not written in the same 'light' of what his father wrote.  This, I believe is a mirror image to many interpretations of the Bible.  To what Leviticus wrote. 

My belief has always been that God sent to us 'The Ten Commandments' to follow, as a guideline for life. These, I believe, were his intentions. Simple rules to lead us by. The rules are clear. In this day and age of limitless boundaries. 

The rules are not "Thou shall not, unless......" 

I just think that we need to rope in our awareness of the truth. Define what that really means, not someone's interpretation of the truth. The truth is not Ego based, it just is. My God does not instill fear. He instills love. 

I do believe that this will lead us to a more mindful existence. So often it seems that we complicate matters so to confuse. 

A 10 Day Challenge would be a Grand Challenge to take on. Each day take one of the commandments and live truthfully within the boundaries of it. Become aware of your thoughts, actions and deeds in everything that you do. 

Life is always interesting. My mind is always thinking. So today these are my thoughts.

Blessed Be.