“You don’t have to know the answer to know there IS an answer. Once you believe there IS an answer, the next step will be revealed.”
Psychologist Scott Thomas, quoted by Julia Cameron in Seeking Wisdom
As I mentioned last week on Facebook, Captain, our beloved 2001 Chevy Silverado, finally drove his last mile. After giving us over 600,000 of them, he deserves a final rest.
Given our lifestyle, a pick-up truck is essential, and Admiral, a 2024 Silverado, has joined the family.
He is gigantic. He didn’t look that big at the dealership, next to all the other trucks, but once home, he took on much larger proportions. We always thought Captain was big, but he is dwarfed in comparison. Must be age. I know the feeling!
Yet hugeness and youth both bowed in reverence as, parked nose to nose, it seemed as if Captain was sharing everything Admiral needs to know about Jim. After 23 years, he knows his driver.
I know, I know, we are nutty about our vehicles. Don’t even get me started on mine, whose name is Meredith and who lives a more refined life in the garage …
I told you not to get me started.
But our woo-woo relationship with our cars arises from one of life’s mysterious questions: doesn’t everything have a soul? And doesn’t every soul have questions, grapple with mysteries, struggle with things that just don’t make sense?
You will never convince me that Captain isn’t sharing the Jim secrets with Admiral out there in the driveway. Admiral is asking the questions, I know it.
And so, my beloved community, can we.
How do we find the answers?
That’s what this week is about on Facebook.
We’ve agreed that we do well to let ourselves not-know, until we do know. But just how is it that we come to know?
We’re going to explore these aspects – though probably not only these. You have a way of nudging me into things I hadn’t thought of. This is a start, however:
- How do we live – not just live WITH – the questions? How can we participate in the seeking through the way we go about our daily round?
- Can we honor the struggle, rather than try to fix it with pat answers and rote solutions?
- Are we able to remain open while still being true to what we DO know?
Begin with the questions:
Granted, there will surprises along the way, but I don’t think we can even begin this part of the long journey we’re on together unless we know what it is we’re looking for.
We’ve already established that it’s okay not to already know it all. SHAME stands for Should Have Already Mastered Everything. Still, it can be hard to say, “This is something I don’t know. I just can’t wrap my mind around it. I don’t get it!”
For some, that sounds like, “If I were closer to God I wouldn’t be confused.”
For others, “It’s enough for me to just have faith. You know, the blind kind.”
For us – let’s accept that the questions are good. And let’s figure out what they are.
You in?
This week’s question:
What are the spiritual questions or conundrums you’re grappling with right now? Or perhaps are afraid to?
Me? Why must we of different religions or theologies or even just varying denominations spend so much energy being against each other? I know what I’m for; do I have to accept the whole doctrine if some of it grates on me like sandpaper on sunburn?
I trust there will be answers. Oh, and Captain is going to a veteran’s association for his final days. God rest his wonderful soul.
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