The journey has always been a fruitful picture for the spiritual life. You will know of many journey stories. In Greek lore there is Jason and the Argonauts and the search for the Golden Fleece. In Celtic lore there is the voyage of Brendon. He us said to be the first from Europe to “find” North America. The search for the Holy Grail is a journey: the Grail Quest, and with the finding of the Grail immortality. The archetypal Biblical journey was that made by the Israelites leaving slavery in Egypt and journeying to the land of promise. Each journey is an allegory: It tells us of a journey we are to make with the promise of the not yet: to find the fleece and regain the kingdom; from “home” to our “new world”; from where we are, to find the grail; from our “slavery” to our “land of promise.” The Exodus text says, “they journeyed by stages” (17:1).
It is the journeying by stages that I thought about today.
There is movement in our lives. No human life is static. At the very least we are born, we are cared for, we go to school, we work at several jobs, we die. Some of us form life partnerships. Some work, some do not. Some of us have children. Some of us have over 70! These are all stages. They may just be stages in life that pass us by unnoticed, unaccounted for. Or, we may see them as stages in the quest. If we see each successive stage as part of he quest, then there is much to learn.
Spiritually, there are very clear stages: changes of direction, important events that stand out, way markers to trace the journey. These often coincide with the stages of life, but not necessarily so. From long observation, there seem to be some more common than others. Many of us have significant spiritual events in the teen years. These often shape the next stage or two of spiritual journeying. Many people have some kind of religious awakening in those years. Middle age brings its crises, its deep questions, its regrets and its longings. The middle period of life gives opportunity to reflect. Much has passed, more is to come. How has it been? Where is it going? What needs to be changed? Where should focus lie? Approaching death brings its own focus. I had opportunity some years ago to chat with an elderly man about life and death. In a conversation over a meal the subject abruptly changed to the meaning of life, what happens when we die, is there purpose? I think it was a significant stage in his journey. Four months later he died suddenly. I would like to thin that I helped him a little on the journey.
Each new stage is marked by new joys, new opportunities and new difficulties. There are new challenges to face. There are new enemies to learn to love. This does not change. I think the balance between joys and challenges changes. I think in some stages difficulties are more than other stages. Yet, the mix is always there.
For the ancient Socrates, the life well lived is the examined life; a life of mindfulness. The secret of a good life, if there is a secret, is examination. That is, not to let life simply drift by. What a miss, if life passes by with no reflection, no weighing of the journey, no learning, and no looking forward.
Socrates would urge, “Be mindful!” What is your Grail, where is your promised land? Seek it! Reflect on it!
+Ab. Andy
It is the journeying by stages that I thought about today.
There is movement in our lives. No human life is static. At the very least we are born, we are cared for, we go to school, we work at several jobs, we die. Some of us form life partnerships. Some work, some do not. Some of us have children. Some of us have over 70! These are all stages. They may just be stages in life that pass us by unnoticed, unaccounted for. Or, we may see them as stages in the quest. If we see each successive stage as part of he quest, then there is much to learn.
Spiritually, there are very clear stages: changes of direction, important events that stand out, way markers to trace the journey. These often coincide with the stages of life, but not necessarily so. From long observation, there seem to be some more common than others. Many of us have significant spiritual events in the teen years. These often shape the next stage or two of spiritual journeying. Many people have some kind of religious awakening in those years. Middle age brings its crises, its deep questions, its regrets and its longings. The middle period of life gives opportunity to reflect. Much has passed, more is to come. How has it been? Where is it going? What needs to be changed? Where should focus lie? Approaching death brings its own focus. I had opportunity some years ago to chat with an elderly man about life and death. In a conversation over a meal the subject abruptly changed to the meaning of life, what happens when we die, is there purpose? I think it was a significant stage in his journey. Four months later he died suddenly. I would like to thin that I helped him a little on the journey.
Each new stage is marked by new joys, new opportunities and new difficulties. There are new challenges to face. There are new enemies to learn to love. This does not change. I think the balance between joys and challenges changes. I think in some stages difficulties are more than other stages. Yet, the mix is always there.
For the ancient Socrates, the life well lived is the examined life; a life of mindfulness. The secret of a good life, if there is a secret, is examination. That is, not to let life simply drift by. What a miss, if life passes by with no reflection, no weighing of the journey, no learning, and no looking forward.
Socrates would urge, “Be mindful!” What is your Grail, where is your promised land? Seek it! Reflect on it!
+Ab. Andy