Three Variables Inherent in the Journey - Paragraph 5
We’ve now come to Roberts’ third variable, which she earlier stated is “the movement of the path with its stages and major turning points.” As a reminder the first two variables were God’s progressive revelations and our ever-changing self. Here’s our text for today:
“The third variable is the spiritual path itself. This path is the line of travel between ourselves and God marked by revelation, irreversible turning points and major milestones. In the act of creation we are set in motion with the goal, not simply to exist, but to move toward an ever higher, greater End. So inherent in the divine act of creation is a dynamic movement that will not end until the journey is completed. When the end is reached no further movement is possible - because the energy that put us in motion has been consumed in the living of it. This continuous movement is a major variable of the spiritual path, indeed, it is the path itself.”
There are some sentiments I really like in this small text. The first is “the line of travel between ourselves and God” and the second is “in the act of creation we are set in motion.” I’m just letting these phrases wash over me. This action of sitting with phrases or words is a sort of basking in what has been said. Not intellectually thinking about the words or phrases but breathing with the sentiment and undertones held within the words. In the Christian tradition we call this breathing Lectio Divina. As I sit with the phrases there is something very delectable in them, very tasty, I can feel them in the very center of me.
For the first one, “the line of travel”, I sense a certainty concerning this traveling line, an understanding that this is true. There is some felt sense about the journey that feels very tangible in an intangible way. This is not to say that the line of travel is linear. Oh no, it is circuitous, mysterious, and sometimes even hidden. There have been multiple times I didn’t even know I’d been on this line of travel until I stood back to look, and from this looking-back vantage point came to understand how the travel unfolded. That this line of travel is taking me somewhere is a given.
Given Roberts says this line of travel is to God I though I would mention that these days I’m not as allergic to the word God as in the past few years. Frankly, I wasn’t sure what “God” was after the sense of God had been ripped out of me all those ten years ago. Today the word feels more like a placeholder for something that can not be understood. You too may feel this travel towards something other than yourself. You too may be allergic to the word “God.” It goes by many names; Love, Sacred, Truth, maturity, common sense, philosophy and care about the earth and its inhabitants. These days I’m less concerned about what we call it just as long as we serve it, which in my mind means letting go of those things that get in the way of living a fully present and loving life.
The second phrase is equally compelling. I love the idea that the act of creation set something in motion with that something in motion being me. This something isn’t the small, automated, and reactive part of myself, but that which I do not understand. That part of me that loves when loving seems impossible. That part of me that cares when I couldn’t care-a-less. That part of me that understands when understanding is difficult. There’s a part of me that, at times, can see everything as beautiful and perfect in spite of evidence to the contrary. It is in the air I’m breathing, the sights I’m seeing, it’s like a fabric that is always present and available. This present and available fabric is that of many names.
As I sit with the above two phrases, what I understand from the text today is that the line of travel is in motion and has been set by an act of creation. It is almost as if I have no control over the line of travel, it is set and unfolding. This idea of no control over the travel is not exactly true as I have been dedicated to posturing myself to experience the travel and the fabric. These posturings are the many practices we’ve explored here in the blog or the ones you read about in other spiritual traditions. They are things like slowing down, meditation, journaling, Lectio Divina, inner healing work of some sort whether through therapy or a system like the Enneagram.
The text reveals I can experience this line of travel the next question becomes what is the current invitation for today? A surrender and a beckoning is what I understand the words to be asking. “And how is that going?” you may ask. Well, some days are better than others. One key to the surrender and beckoning is to drop any expectations I have that my practices are going to produce anything. Isn’t it enough to just live this beautiful life today? To accept anything and everything that comes along whether I like it or not? I know mentally the answer is yes, but there are days that the “not enough” mentality appears. Those head voices that say, “It shouldn’t be like this” or “this is unfair.”
It is a slow learning to just accept the moment for the teacher it is, not pushing away anything or changing anything. When the moment is fully accepted the striving ceases. Just for today may I accept life on its terms, not my own.
