Jesus said ..., "Anyone who starts to plow and keeps looking back is of no use for the Way of Love."
*Gospel of Luke 9.62
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A Christian said to the Sage, "I'm concerned. My pastor preaches about the danger of Christians backsliding. I fear I'm one of those backslidden Christians." The Sage replied, "There's no back to slide back to."
*Brian K. Wilcox. "Meetings with an Anonymous Sage."
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A man came upon a tall tower. He stepped inside to find it all dark. As he groped around, he came upon a circular staircase. Curious to know where it led to, he began climbing, and as he climbed, he sensed a growing uneasiness in his heart.
So, he looked behind him and was horrified to see that each time he climbed a step, the previous one fell off and disappeared. Before him, the stairs wound upward, and he had no idea where they led; behind him was an enormous black emptiness.
*Anthony De Mello. Heart of the Enlightened.
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The Way is a verb, is happening ... as the saying of wise persons, "You can't step in the same river twice." We speak of walking the Way, but the Way is walking, too.
You cannot locate the Way. You cannot know how it will evolve. You do not know what it is. You may begin with an idea of what it is, but how can you, when it is never what it was?
When you unite with the Sacred, you find joy in the journey unfolding. You cherish it. You do not want to turn back. You cannot go back ... there is nothing there to return to.
You can learn from others about what might happen. Yet, you accept, finally, no descriptions fit. Anyway, the Way is dissimilar for everyone. Still, it is similar. To gain wisdom from learning the similarities is essential. We need signposts.
If you are like me, you can look back and exclaim, "Wow! I never dreamed!" I anticipate that will continue for us before and after leaving this body.
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She said to the Sage, "I saw you sitting under the tree yesterday, down at the river. What were you doing?" "I was going somewhere," said the Sage.
*Brian K. Wilcox. "Meetings with an Anonymous Sage."
Can we relax our proneness to interfere with the workings of Grace? Can we welcome the unfolding as an adventure? The riddle as a delight? Can we not take ourselves too seriously, lighten up, and enjoy the ride as much as possible? Can we look back and say, "Thank You." And forward, "I'm ready."
*Brian's book, An Ache for Union: Poems on Oneness with God through Love, can be ordered through major online booksellers or the publisher AuthorHouse.
*The opening scripture is this writer's paraphrastic reading, "Way of Love" for "Kingdom of God."
