Reflection for March
“When we no longer know what to do, we have come to our real work and when we no longer know which way to go, we have begun our real journey.” Wendell Berry
Often, we ask ourselves as well as others “What is the right thing to do? Which is the right way to go?” Some of the answers we hear are not necessarily the ones we want. At times, we discard them and at other times, we embrace them. We discard them because they seem too difficult, or too uncomfortable, and we feel that our life as we know it will be disrupted. We embrace someone else’s answers, not necessarily because we have found the right answer for ourselves, but because we unconsciously think, that we will not become directly responsible for the outcome.
So, instead of sitting quietly in silence, to hear our true answer, we run from place to place, trying to find that elusive right answer to our two questions. Asking repeatedly, the questions above, hoping we can find one answer that will not disrupt our lives or hold us accountable for the outcome. Yet, we keep asking others the same questions, only to create more turmoil in our lives.
To struggle with those two questions above can be both painful and uncomfortable. We desire immediate relief, thinking that an immediate solution to those two questions will permanently soothe our painful struggle. The truth is, that the more profound the situation in question is, the more time is required to arrive at a truthful answer; an answer that comes from our inner place of wisdom.
This answer can be very difficult to hear, for we are constantly distracted by all the noises that are created from our place of fear. This answer that comes from that place of wisdom, though, is the right answer for us and may bring us sadness as well as relief at the onset of our realization. This answer if we allow ourselves to hear it, though difficult, will bring us to a place of peace.
We have reached this crossroad because we no longer see clearly. Our mind has been clouded by our emotions of fear and distrust. Our perception of the reality of the event we are struggling with is distorted. Our lack of clarity has made us, oblivious, to how our actions are injuring not only those around us but most importantly, ourselves.
This struggling place, this crossroad, we have reached, and encountered, is the best possible place, to sit quietly, to explore that part of our life that has brought us here. That part of our life has brought us to this place of choice. If we can muster the courage and sit quietly with our struggle, a place within us will open and in that place of wisdom, we will find our answer.
©Maria Milnichuk