Inner Journey Blog

Living Daily, Dusty Lives

I think part of what I have been struggling with lately is how to live within the reality of ordinary life. Sounds ridiculous when I write it... But there is something so extra-ordinary about the realities of God, His kingdom, and all that I am in Him and to Him... And there is something so super-ordinary about everyday life that it is difficult, at times, to put the two together.

Thomas Keating says it this way:

It is not enough to have transcendent experiences. We have to translate those experiences into daily life and into our humdrum routine. We have to bring all our faculties into harmony with higher states of consciousness and express that knowledge in human terms, in the dusts of this world.

Sometimes the dust of this world really gets into my eyes making it difficult to walk the faith life in which I am seeing my place in the transcendent world. Sometimes I feel powerless to do much about this. Traditional wisdom might say, "Pray more!", "Read Scripture!", "Do this or that!" But sometimes I'm not sure it's about more of anything. I'm with God, He's with me. I take time with Him and for Him because I don't want to miss out. But sometimes I think I'm simply supposed to experience more of the dust and less of the sublime. It's just the way it is. Perhaps the sublime and the transcendent become even more wonderful because of the time I spend with the dust, in the dust, and with dust-filled eyes. Perhaps it's just good to remember who I am apart from the Splendor of the One who breathed life into me and made me to be so much more than "dust to dust."

Perhaps I'm being shown how far I have to go in learning to really walk with God in the humdrum routines of life.

I have been slow to write recently. I'm not exactly sure what is going on. I have felt simply dull for several days now. I wouldn't call it blue, not down, just dull, complacent, un-ernegized... Certainly no stirring passion for reaching toward Deity. I don't feel distant or disengaged from Him... just not compelled toward much of anything.

I can worship, pray, meditate, but it's just not that alive to me. I know that I'm just talking feelings here (or lack of them), but hey, I'm a feeling kind of guy.

I'm okay with where I'm at. I am aware that resting, reaching, and yet just accepting where I am is all part of the process, feelings or not. It's okay. But I like it better when I'm stirred, moved, empassioned, made alive and energized by the Spirit's presence, leading, and life within.

Ah dull heart, just wait. Your time will come again!