It floors me that thoughts expressed and documented by the Apostle Paul about 57 AD behold a clarity and exude a resonance that remains powerful and compelling to this moment. More importantly, they are more synchronous than just belonging to the present.  Belief in and adherence to these lessons first shared some two thousand years ago, and a commitment to conduct ourselves accordingly effectively works to make us their contemporaries.  

In many ways, these words of wisdom can help both to direct and sustain a journey towards a genuinely spiritual reckoning and rebirth.

“A ‘spiritual reckoning’ is a moment of deep self-assessment and accountability, often prompted by a significant life event like suffering or a crisis, where an individual confronts the consequences of their actions, thoughts, and beliefs.” Once you experience this on a personal level, the world begins to change for you.  Maybe not so much in a material sense, if at all.  But definitely, your perspective will shift more so in a spiritual aspect. 

The release from dishonesty and relegating ego to its proper stature brings with it the rare reality of calm and palpable presence.  Moments become redefined.  Things that were baffling and seemingly powerful dissipate, their grip on you lessens. 

“It involves facing a deeper truth about oneself and one’s relationship with the divine or the spiritual realm, leading to a personal awakening, a change in perspective, and an understanding of one’s responsibilities and purpose.”  An awakening to the presence of grace and a deeper relationship with Him leads one to what life is really meant to be.  A calling for discernment about true responsibilities and how this leads one to an understanding and embrace of purpose. 

Words can become so abstract and difficult to navigate.  Prone to the fetish, fantasy or fixation of the minute, the meaning of their intended construction can become obscured by ego, judgement or the current trend.   But upon one’s approach to the peace that comes with a desire for repentance, metanoia as it was meant to be,  their truth holds firm and their context remains as fully as it was intended.  

Belief in and adherence to these lessons first shared some two thousand years ago, and a commitment to conduct ourselves accordingly effectively leads one to undertake metanoia and lean into a genuine spiritual reckoning.  

A deep self-assessment and a newborn sense of accountability.  

An awakening.  

A life meant to be lived.  

With Him.

In the midst of ongoing transformation and renewal, things can take on an entirely new mass and meaning.  Prior perspectives, familiar  moments, simple words can appear altogether awe inspiring.  An overwhelming sense of serenity, peace and comfort. A knowing. 

Grace is one such word that is utterly attuned to this state of being.  Something that has been lost in translation for reasons now that just escape me. When put as such, by Thomas Merton, it now resonates to and through one’s soul:

“Grace is not a strange, magic substance which is subtly filtered into our souls to act as a kind of spiritual penicillin. Grace is unity, oneness within ourselves, oneness with God.”

A state of being with a genuine openness to be who we are in the presence of God.  A true collaboration of a life together.  Not as some external additive, but an honest recognition of what has always been there internally. Only needing to be opened and honored through our will to accept that level of  presence and love. 

It is the truest and highest form of unity.  

Made possible by His grace.

Pure oneness.

“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.”  

– T.S. Eliot

You cannot possibly discover any of your limitations without first choosing to go directly to your limits.  And then some. All along that way, you will surely face fear. Disappointment. Doubt. Uncertainty. 

Defeat. 

Embracing this level of risk requires unshakable will and determination.  The resolve to fully commit.  An unbound level of courage.  Unshakable faith. And good old fashioned grit.  

Yet at the end of the day, this is truly a worthy venture. A path well chosen.The only one that can reveal just how far you can go. 

So press on toward what you think are your known limitations.  Fully embrace that current threshold, eyes fixed and head-on.  Then, fit into it.  Embody the struggle.  Fight your way through it, working your way all the way out  to the other side. 

Appreciate all that  you have just become in the process. Discover what you can be in all of those similar moments  yet to come.  

Only when you choose to go too far will all of this become apparent. 

That the risk was well worth the reward.  

And you will know with the utmost certainty.  

Just how far you can go.

The seasons most definitely transitioned this past week. The lawn has transitioned into its slumber. An abundance of golden leaves appeared all over. The mornings and evenings have this crisp feel to it. And the skies are just simply a sight to behold. Bringing with them a shining clarity as to what really matters.

This moment.

To begin the day seeing this vision in our backyard is in itself affirming and empowering.

“I get to start the day like this!”

I have no idea what the rest of it holds. That will be known soon enough. But for now, this is what I have, this is what I will hold and the rest will take care of itself.

Or rather, the rest He will take care of.

That shining clarity as to what really matters.