MOVING FORWARD AND DETOURS

….people addicted to their own mind will find contemplation most difficult, if not impossible. Much that is called thinking is simply the ego’s stating of what it prefers and likes—and resistance to what it does not like. Narcissistic reactions to the moment are not worthy of being called thinking. Yet that is much of our public and private discourse. -- Fr. Richard Rohr

I believe that the biggest impediment to any spiritual growth is the fear of making a mistake. It is pretty much a given that we come to God not by our perfection but by our imperfection. The more "perfect" we see ourselves, or even aim to see ourselves, the more certain it is that our ego is our mirror...there is no God in human perfection. 

The trouble is that few of us truly seek still more spiritual growth in our walking-around world. When we're dealing with that mean girl Joan or that horse's patoot Joe, our ego-victory reasoning mind is in control and on parade.

In truth, we only seek still more spiritual growth when we're in our morning quiet time or sharing our high-flying thoughts with others. Truly seeking to give over to another who has wronged us, or snubbed us, or snickered at us...especially in our mind as we're going to sleep that night...now, that's seeking still more spiritual growth. 

It's all about changing our mind...not to better, prettier, happier thoughts. No (but that is not a bad thing). We exchange our reasoning mind for a higher state of consciousness. That's a within matter of subtraction rather than addition...letting go rather than holding on. 

Divorcing ourselves from our own opinions is a good first step. Learning to "Just say No" to our own self, our own opinions, likes, preferences, is a life-long journey no matter when we start, I'm guessing. 

The good news is we start the journey the instant we seek help...from anybody for anything! We will have detours up the gump-stump, but we will have started our journey. Life itself will slap us around enough to keep us going in the right direction. According to me.

Thank You.