Three Variables Inherent in the Journey - Paragraph 2 and 3
It is good to be back with you and Bernadette following some family visits and travel. You may remember that last time we began a new subsection with Roberts titled Three Variables Inherent in the Journey. Today we will be taking a look at her first variable, which she says is “God’s progressive revelation.” Here’s our text:
“The first variable, God’s progressive revelation, is due, as we shall see, to God’s own dynamic inner nature. God is multidimensional, multifaceted - infinite. Although no revelation withholds God’s fullness and truth, the progressive nature of revelation is also due to our own undeveloped “eye” required to see God’s fullness and Truth.
We may also lack the spiritual strength to endure this fullness - remember, for the unprepared “see God and die” is a profound truth. So even though God’s revelations vary - no two are alike - the variability is both on God’s part and our own as well.”
I’ve believe that God indeed continuously whispers to us, inviting us to deeper revelation. This revelation is connected to both the personal life and the world at large. We may also state this as what does it mean to be a person of love and what does it mean we are connected? It is our choice to participate in the revelation and to decide at what speed we will experience a new revelation. Revelation sounds ominous, but isn’t learning any simple lesson a revelation? Take the newly smitten parents who learn that the world now revolves around a precious little one. I understand that this is not exactly what Roberts has in mind, but to the new parents a complete devotion, without thought of self, to this newborn is something totally unanticipated. It is now revealed to them that they would simply give their life for this child.
In considering this first variable with an eye towards simplicity, I would be bold enough to change the word “God” to “Love,” and say “Love’s progressive revelation” instead of God’s progressive revelation.” Would the word change not also make sense? Life is really nothing more than a life-long learning in how to love better, truer, and deeper. Roberts herself has expanded the concept of God to an idea of experience, which is beyond “concept, thought, idea or image.” Is not love an experience? She says that “thought and experience are two totally different dimensions, two different modes of human knowing. It is because we cannot pass along an experience of God…that we have no choice but to convey God in the objective form of words, concepts, descriptions.” We find then that Roberts expressly uses the term “God” as a sense of experience. Is this not what a newborn engenders in us; an experience of Love?
The other point she makes is that we are often the ones who can not bear the truth of a God that “is multidimensional, multifaceted - infinite.” I like what she says, that this incapacity to bear a multidimensional and infinite revelation is “due to our own undeveloped “eye” required to see God’s fullness and Truth.” In other words, we are the ones that either make a hack of the revelation or misinterpret its actual meaning.
Taking all of this together, I understand these ideas to be saying that revelations come freely, and likely often, due to God’s “dynamic inner nature.” Let’s remember that God is no respecter of persons AND that God is Love. Unfortunately revelations often go unheeded or become distorted because the human vessel is weak. Some brokenness in me hinders the correct understanding of what God or Love is revealing. What these words invite me into is intentional living. If my brokenness, or “undeveloped eye” can not make sense of a revelation then it is my responsibility to do the work that engenders a more open response to what is being offered.
What does intentional living look like? Well, there are many forms of intentional living, but let’s keep in mind that we are exploring intentional living with regards to repairing our “eye” or healing the brokenness within. So how do I apply repairing and healing intentionally to my life in order to bear more receptivity? At its simplest it is to practice presence, to stay in touch with that stillpoint within as I move throughout the day. If I come across a situation that takes me away from that stillpoint then some form of inner work is needed. This may be work that I do on my own through journaling, conversing with a trusted friend, or it may be sitting with a professional (therapist, coach, spiritual director) to unpack what is being activated in me.
So intentional, at the base of it, is working towards living a vulnerable and surrender life. At this point, as you know, we usually inquiry into how is this understanding of the text going for me? And as you know we usually find that some days are better than others. But even in the unevenness of living intentionally there is a compassionate stance I have developed towards myself, understanding more fully with each passing day, exactly how both broken and courageous I am. There is no judgement here about the brokenness, just a truthful gaze at the many inner parts that make up what I call me. The key for me is to keep my eye, regardless of its development, on the stillpoint trusting that a certain unfolding is happening in the midst of imperfect intentionality.
