Becoming a Prayer

I am discovering, and even surrendering to the idea (at least a little bit at a time), that walking the path of spiritual progress is less and less about the how and why.

That may seem like a grave contradiction. How can anyone possibly get on a spiritual path without knowing how to do that? We all realize that a starting point is the only place to begin and the proper motivation to begin a spiritual journey usually comes from the purpose (the why) and once convinced we want directions (the how). I’m not denying any of that, in fact, I’m asserting it.

Nevertheless, I don’t believe this invalidates my opening statement. One of the mysteries of the journey is that the more you know the less you know. My experience tells me the bigger your faith the greater the need for expansion. Continual open-mindedness and willingness is crucial. Here is the basis for true humility.

So if our progress becomes less about knowledge and reason it must be something else.

A Collision of Opposites

It is my belief that the answers, in so far as we can call them answers, reside in the reconciliation of contradiction. Essentially cracking open the paradox and finding that the whole is more than black-white, right-wrong, yes-no and other simplistic ways of looking at things. I know the attraction of simplicity and rationality. We all want things to be clear-cut and easy. The beauty of my personal discovery is that the wrestling over the collision of opposites induces continual growth. The only way it won’t is if we throw our hands up in the air and quit. Instead of quitting we can try acceptance. Set aside our disagreeable nature and allow the conflict to just be. Force yourself to look at all the sides and then sit with it.

Jesus taught that the only way to understand spiritual truth (the things of heaven) was to be reborn in the spirit. Our essence is spiritual – we are spiritual beings living a human experience. Clearly we are all more than flesh and blood. Without the new birth (John 3:5-7) we are limited to an experience that is mostly physical, mental and emotional. And we hardly understand this reality – small wonder that we struggle with spiritual concepts!

Letting Go

You’ve probably encountered the phrase, “let go and let God”. Essentially it means trust that we don’t have to figure everything out or be in control. Indeed we can not. We are lacking in the ability – the power – to understand and control our lives. This is not abdicating responsibility; it owns up to the futility of living out of self will.

I’ve spent a lot of time wrestling with and eventually accepting this. If self propulsion is not the right way of living then there must be something else I must turn my will over to. This surrender means I no longer live for me. I am to become a part of something bigger, a community of faith united in one spirit.

The problem is the tendency to slide back into selfish living. As soon as you get two or more together we all tend to view things through our perspectives. Unless we are opened up to the benefit of a changed collective perspective guided by a loving and Divine Spirit we will revert to what we know. It’s not surprising. Old ways are comfortable. New things are scary.

Article Source: http://www.christiannotepad.com