I believe children are amazing. Especially the ones that are still honest enough to say "I don't know." as an answer to questions like "Why did you do that?"
As adults we often stand there looking at them with our mouths open and a puzzled look in our eyes and depending on the amount of patience available to us at that moment, anger rising in our chest and throat. The truth is we are probably reacting to our own ambivalence. When someone asks me why I did or do something that is, first of all, questionable, I often wish I had the courage to not only say I don't know but then take the time to investigate it. Imagine that.
One of my dearest friends often tells me, while helping me to investigate things such as this, that the question is far more important than the answer. I believe her. And here is a perfect example. What do we ask ourselves when trying to uncover the hidden meaning behind our own actions. Actions that we feel warrant questioning. I make this distinction because there are many things we do that we will never question mainly because they are clearly lined up with our values or they are lined up with what makes us look good. In the case of the latter we may not be present to any lack of integrity that exists because our mask has not cracked, so to speak.
But in the cases where we and the whole world is like WTF! The questions become very important. We can take these experiences in as a practice. A practice in uncovering the unseen. Nobody can see the thoughts and impulses that drive and action. And if the action is your own then you should at least have the option of being honest with yourself. There are people who are able in real time and complete integrity tell you exactly why they did anything that you can point to in their lives past or present. Self-awareness has allowed them to see clearly and choose what has and will move them through life. I am a work in progress and a chick in practice in this regard. My commitment to self realization has brought me to many a mirror and made me open my eyes to the truth about me. Although it has been very painful at times I am grateful for the practice.
In the spirit of Resurrection I must say that those that know don't die like those that don't know. So I challenge you to know yourself. Even if you choose to keep the knowledge a secret for some time, give yourself the option. In reality, no matter how we try, everybody can see that which we believe is true, especially about ourselves. And most of all, love yourself. There will be things about ourselves that we will lay to rest. It is love that resurrects the higher truth in its place. We must enter into knowledge of self with the humility of knowing God created that which we are investigating. We are looking inward for the truth of our being. Letting that which is unlike our true selves, made in the image and likeness of God, fall away. We no longer have any use for it.
If you have ever prayed the prayer of Jabez asking to enlarge your territory; you have asked for a new frontier in you life, uncharted, unknown. When we ask for what we don't know anything about how often do we examine how we react to the unknown. Hope , awe, and wonder? or Criticism, judgement, and fear? A good test to see where we are right now is how we react when we ask someone why they did something, and they say"I don't know?"
As adults we often stand there looking at them with our mouths open and a puzzled look in our eyes and depending on the amount of patience available to us at that moment, anger rising in our chest and throat. The truth is we are probably reacting to our own ambivalence. When someone asks me why I did or do something that is, first of all, questionable, I often wish I had the courage to not only say I don't know but then take the time to investigate it. Imagine that.
One of my dearest friends often tells me, while helping me to investigate things such as this, that the question is far more important than the answer. I believe her. And here is a perfect example. What do we ask ourselves when trying to uncover the hidden meaning behind our own actions. Actions that we feel warrant questioning. I make this distinction because there are many things we do that we will never question mainly because they are clearly lined up with our values or they are lined up with what makes us look good. In the case of the latter we may not be present to any lack of integrity that exists because our mask has not cracked, so to speak.
But in the cases where we and the whole world is like WTF! The questions become very important. We can take these experiences in as a practice. A practice in uncovering the unseen. Nobody can see the thoughts and impulses that drive and action. And if the action is your own then you should at least have the option of being honest with yourself. There are people who are able in real time and complete integrity tell you exactly why they did anything that you can point to in their lives past or present. Self-awareness has allowed them to see clearly and choose what has and will move them through life. I am a work in progress and a chick in practice in this regard. My commitment to self realization has brought me to many a mirror and made me open my eyes to the truth about me. Although it has been very painful at times I am grateful for the practice.
In the spirit of Resurrection I must say that those that know don't die like those that don't know. So I challenge you to know yourself. Even if you choose to keep the knowledge a secret for some time, give yourself the option. In reality, no matter how we try, everybody can see that which we believe is true, especially about ourselves. And most of all, love yourself. There will be things about ourselves that we will lay to rest. It is love that resurrects the higher truth in its place. We must enter into knowledge of self with the humility of knowing God created that which we are investigating. We are looking inward for the truth of our being. Letting that which is unlike our true selves, made in the image and likeness of God, fall away. We no longer have any use for it.
If you have ever prayed the prayer of Jabez asking to enlarge your territory; you have asked for a new frontier in you life, uncharted, unknown. When we ask for what we don't know anything about how often do we examine how we react to the unknown. Hope , awe, and wonder? or Criticism, judgement, and fear? A good test to see where we are right now is how we react when we ask someone why they did something, and they say"I don't know?"
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