I can remember, not so long ago, when my spiritual life was focused on knowing. My spiritual practices were about searching and finding. I was essentially a spiritual detective, looking for clues that would answer questions and solve riddles.
It was clear that the active person was me, in pursuit of spiritual life.
I was comfortable being a spiritual detective, because I could run my own cases. I had a general understanding of the procedures and was fine as long as I did things by the book. There was plenty of encouragement to invest myself in finding answers to questions and solving mysteries.
Like every good mystery, spiritual life has layers and layers of meaning to explore. I set out in search of answers to put into blanks, boxes to check, words to fit into open spaces. As I continued to pursue solutions, I came to see they were neither as tangible or as clear as I had presumed.
Growing and maturing take time and effort, and help from other people. It started to dawn on me that what I was seeking was own true, deepest self. I began to suspect that I was not the only one actively pursuing. As much as I was pursuing, I was also being pursued.
It dawned on me that knowing might not be as essential as I thought it was.
I am still curious and still enjoy a good mystery, though I may not be as fixated on finding a solution. The layers of meaning to be explored are not obstacles, but keys to the mystery itself.
Not knowing has become one of the spiritual practices I embrace. There are valuable lessons hidden in mysteries.
How will you practice not knowing this week?
Who helps you grow and mature?
[Image by Dean Hochman]
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