Three Variables Inherent in the Journey - Paragraphs 6, 7, and 8
We’ve come to the end of this subsection within the essay titled Three Variables Inherent in the Journey. Given much of what Roberts shares here has been stated elsewhere and given the last paragraph is a summary of the three variables, I have chosen to include all three paragraphs in one sitting. Here’s today’s text:
“Different religions, of course, have different paths because they have different revelations. Since the revelation is also the goal to be realized, it automatically sets up the path to the goal. Thus, for example, God revealed in or through nature automatically draws one toward nature, whereas God revealed imminently within one’s self automatically draws one inward. While the two are not incompatible, their priorities, practices and envisioned goals, are nevertheless quite different.
We should also add, while making this journey there is no awareness of being on any “journey,” no sense we’re getting any place at all. There are only two points on this seemingly pathless path when we can actually look back and see a path in retrospect. On the Christian path, one such point is after arriving at the egoless Unitive State. Here we can look back to see the distance (and difference) between then and now. If we look ahead, however, we see no further progress possible on earth - in this, however, we are mistaken. Once the Unitive State has been thoroughly tested and lived to its fullest potential, the Unitive State falls away completely - as Christ put it, “It is finished.” Now, no further movement is possible. From this vantage point we can see the entire path from beginning to end, a vista we could not have seen before; an end we could never have suspected.
In summary, the variables that complicate the journey are: 1. the height, depth and breadth of God gradually revealed to us; 2. the ever changing self; 3. the movement of the path with its ever expanding perspectives, experiences and stages.”
Two things come to me today as I read and sit with this passage. First is the idea of the path appearing according to how Love is unfolding us. Such a lovely notion that the path may unfold each of us in a way appropriate for us. Roberts names two of many possible paths, 1) how Love draws us to itself through Nature and 2) how Love draws us to itself through inward immediacy. The point here is that given there may be different types of paths then we must be astute enough to know which path we’re traveling. We must correctly identify those “priorities, practices and envisioned goals” that will be needed.
The other point I’m drawn to is this idea that “there is no awareness of being on any “journey.” That we may not have a sense of getting anywhere and only until we’ve finished the journey can we gain enough perspective to see what “we could never have suspected.” She also mentions this idea of following a “pathless path.” I’m included to wonder if the path is pathless then how can we discern those priorities and practices needed along the way?
There is some implication here, some paradox, that while the path may not be self-evident we can know what is needed to follow the call of our heart. Roberts said earlier in her essay that “thought and experience are two totally different dimensions, two different modes of human knowing” and I believe that is what she is pointing to here. We know by our experience, we know by testing things out, we try a practice on and see if it fits. We practice a practice for awhile, and then we discern if it is in line with where it feels Love is taking us.
This discerning piece feels aligned with the third variable, the one concerning the movement of the path. I would say that practices may need to be revised or discarded if they no longer serve us. The way I interrupt this text is to never feel that I’ve landed. To not believe that one practice or priority will carry me to the end. Now there may be one practice that I do to the end, but the practice in and of itself is not the carrying agent. It is my willingness to check-in and reevaluate that indicates my surrender. I have found the pathless path to be dynamic and fluid requiring constant diligence. How are practices and priorities aligning to my lived experience?
I’d also like to visit for a moment those idea of being unaware of the journey. This also is a paradox. Clearly many writers, mystics, philosophers, etc. have spent their life examining the life well lived. Inherent in their writing is some undertone of a human journey. I believe this paradox also has something to do with the different types of knowing that are available to us. We know some Mystery calls us and we also know there is not a clear cut path for us to follow. We must find that Mystery within the very fabric of our ordinary life, which can be quite tricky at times.
When I ponder the mysterious unfolding of life I find this text inviting me to pay attention, to not be drawn into complacency. In my own scriptures Jesus often says to “Watch.” Another common theme in scriptures is to wake up. This watching and waking up sounds easy, I mean how hard can it be to pay attention to what is going on inside me? How can I lose sight of how I am responding to each moment? And yet, it is difficult. I go to sleep everyday and everyday I let habitual patterning run the show.
The frailty of my humanness is often on display. There is no judgement here, just a recognition that following a pathless path takes time and determination. Perhaps one day I’ll be able to look back and say, “oh, there’s the path.” For today I just practice noticing how aligned I am with those practices and priorities I have set forth to travel this path of Love and enjoy the small knowing that all will be well in the end.
