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Julian of Norwich (1342-c. 1420), one of the leading mystics in the history of the Church, was an Englishwoman of limited education. She had a series of visions, the initial one when she was in a near-mortal sickness. The priest had already been called in to offer her last rites.
In her classic, Revelations of Divine Love, Julian shares her visions. She refers to them as something given her, in the following words: These revelations were showed to a simple unlearned creature living in this mortal flesh, in the year of our Lord one thousand three hundred and seventy-three, on the thirteenth day of May….
Now, I share a story. Then, we will return to Julian.
Once a man was born in a room. He lived in that room, and it had one chair. That is all he knew. Over time he would receive visitors. Now and then someone would say something like, “Hey, don’t you know you could enjoy a sofa.” Well, he would think about it, asking questions. After a time of reflection, he would get that other piece of furniture. Then, after filling the room with furniture, a visitor said, “Listen, friend, are you aware that you live in house.” The man says, “A house, well, I live in a room.” Now, they debated this for a time, and the visitor left frustrated, for he could not convince the man that he lived in a house. Other persons tried to convince the man that he lived in a house with more rooms. No one could convince him, though down deep something kept urging him to find out. Nevertheless, he got old and decided that it was to late to see if what he thought was true or not. So, he lived and died in that one room. Then, he went to heaven. God said, “Friend, I sent you messenger after messenger, telling you that you lived in a house with many rooms. But, you would never listen. You would hear, but not listen. Now, I admit you into my heaven, and how are you going to adjust to the spaciousness and freedom of heaven, when you spent your life living in only one room.” God said, “Friend, it is going to be a very hard adjustment for you, for what you refused on earth, now you must learn here.”
Julian of Norwich defined herself, when she began getting visions, as “a simple unlearned creature.” Still, God spoke to her and has spoken through her to a myriad of persons over the last many centuries.
What do we have to know for God to speak to us? In some sense we are each simple, unlearned creatures. So, what do we have to do to listen to the Spirit teach us? All we need is willingness to be taught. That is all. Without that willingness we shall not be taught; with that willingness we shall be taught.
I think our learning and changing rejoices the heart of our Creator. I think if I were the Creator, it would sadden my heart when a dear creature of mine was like the man who lived in the room, refusing to see if there was so much more space for him to live in.
There is always so much more to learn. However, I cannot learn without openness to learn. If I say, by word or attitude, “God, I only want to hear what I already know, then, that is all I will hear.” What I will hear is only the echo of my version of truth, and I will shut out anything that challenges it. I will not hear God at all, for God will not force teaching upon me. If I say, “God, I am just a simple, unlearned creature, knowing that regardless of how much I have learned, there is so much more I do not know. I do not know what you want me to learn, but I want to learn. I am willing to be taught.” Then, I shall be taught things that I have never considered before. God will teach me.
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Indeed, this is the path I have chosen, or rather God has chosen for me. It has brought me misunderstanding from others; however, the love of truth is very liberating and brings honor to the Creator. I pray I will never bow, again, before the god of versions of truth, which are many. I would love to hear God speak to me on my deathbed, “Brian, thank you, you were faithful to me in loving truth. You let me teach you. Thank you.”
God delights when you, each, seek only the truth of the God whom we can call Truth. Indeed, all truth, all, is in God, and to reject any truth is not honoring God. You and I must decide, daily, “Am I devoted to the truth, whatever the cost to me?” Do you delight God in your openness to learn?
To the extent that you are committed to truth above all else, God will teach you truth. And, in so doing, you will find that there was so many wonderful things that God wanted you to learn. And, in learning them, you will love truth more and rejoice in it more, for truth brings much joy. Not your truth. Not the truth of some group. Not the truth of the latest or oldest religious fad. Not the truth of your friend or church or country or family. Truth. And, truth will free you, always. Are you committed to truth above every version of truth?
Either we are servant to truth, or we do not love truth. If we love truth, we will be willing to learn, and new things, too, and God will teach us. God will be hampered if we only want God to teach us within our truth box, like saying to God, “God, don’t color outside the lines.” There are no lines with God, for God is Truth. You must erase the lines, and you must say, if you are to love truth, “Okay, God, teach me whatever, I place no restriction on you.” Do you love truth that much? Do you honor God that much?
I cannot claim to love truth and resist being taught what I have not yet heard or known. As I learn truth, I will grow to love truth even more. Truth itself will be more important to me than all the versions of truth, even my version of truth. Indeed, I, if letting God teach me, will come to have no attachment to a version of truth, even mine, for I will know all truth is from God. I will know that I dishonor God by assigning to God some version of truth. To be overly devoted to a version of truth is idolatry, and I will come to see that. Jesus speaks, “Truth will free you,” not a version of truth. Are you willing to surrender any attachment to your version of truth?
Do you and I want to be free? Then, we must die to our worship of a version of truth, even if that is painful and not approved by those who keep worshipping their version of truth. When we let God erase the lines of our box or circle, then, that can be scary. But, that openness to truth begins an exciting journey. I know, it has in the lives of so many, and it has in my life, also.
Spiritual Exercise
Consider the question: God, what might you be trying to teach me that I am resisting? Consider: What is the difference between belief and faith? Consider: Will you pray to be given the love of truth above all versions of truth?
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