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Wisdom Quote
To love God is to follow the mystery, to be led by its showing and withdrawing.
*John S. Dunne. The Music of Time.
Today's Scripture
33Who can measure the wealth and wisdom and knowledge of God? Who can understand his decisions or explain what he does?
*Romans 11.33 (CEV)
8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.
*Romans 5.8 (NKJV)
Comments
To love anyone rightly is to love the mystery that is the person; to love God rightly demands reverent allowance for the ungraspable mystery of Sacredness. As we enter more into union with a creature, we find the essence more elusive, more fluid, and our essence and its essence are "seen" as one; the same is so with the One.
This elusiveness opens us to a greater appreciation for the impenetrable holiness of the mystery hidden in and shining through the outer aspects of matter and mind, as well as the symbols and rites of religion.
Part of the truth of Mystery is that it arises and recedes; we cannot grasp it, understand it, or determine its goings and comings. We can only be receptive when it shines forth and affirm and honor it in its times of hiddenness. We can grow in our communication with its coming forth and going. We can celebrate both communications; for in both, God is communicating Godself to us, though in different ways.
"It is enough," affirms Albert Einstein, "if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy curiosity" (Stephen Kendrick. Holy Clues). Thus a mark of naked faith is a curiosity that renders one disposed to receive a growing, deepening sense of insight into the Mystery. Recall,this sense of insight is not emotionality or feeling-based; rather, the sense arises from the spirit and makes one calmly and subtly aware of the Nearness of Love.
Yet, this shining forth and receding of the Mystery, like the Sun moving forth unshielded by clouds and, then, hidden by clouds, is to be wedded to by obscure faith. The Presence remains as present when hidden from our senses; when the Mystery is apparent, it is no more present than in the felt-absence, only more present to the senses.
The contemplative learns to sense Presence in the dawnings and settings through the will inclined to receptivity. Therefore, as taught by the great spiritual masters of the contemplative Path, faith is the constant element in relationship with God, not feeling. Feelings can mislead and lead to dependence on them;true faith never misleads. She who relies on feelings cannot consistently walk the Way of Faith. Indeed, the pilgrimage of a truly spiritual person may have much more sense of the hiddenness of Mystery than the shining forth of the same.
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*Brian K. Wilcox lives with his wife, Rocio, their two dogs, St. Francis and Bandit Ty, and their fish, Hope, in Southwest Florida. Brian is vowed at Greenbough House of Prayer, a contemplative Christian community in South Georgia. His passion is living a contemplative life and inspiring others to experience a deeper, increasingly-fulfilling relationship with the Christ. He advocates for a spiritually-focused Christianity and the renewal of the focus on the Church toward prioritizing seeking to meet the deeper spiritual needs and longings of persons and empathic relating with diverse spiritual traditions.
For replies and biographical information, and submission to "The Light Shines" daily devotionals ~ a ministry of Christ Community United Methodist Church, Punta Gorda, FL, see next page:
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