Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs--

"This is what the poet knows and what every wisdom tradition teaches: there is a great gulf between the way my ego wants to identify me, with its protective masks and self-serving fictions, and my true self. It takes time and hard experience to sense the difference between the two—to sense that running beneath the surface of the experience I call my life, there is a deeper and truer life waiting to be acknowledged. That fact alone makes “listen to your life” difficult counsel to follow. The difficulty is compounded by the fact that from our first days in school, we are taught to listen to everything and everyone but ourselves, to take clues about living from the people and powers around us."

From "Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation," by Parker J. Palmer. I keep going back to the Amazon page where one can read snippets from the book before buying it. In fact, I did buy it, and I just can't wait for it to come. At which time, I'm sure I will have more to share, dear imaginary readers.

But oh! the joy I now experience at the thought, a slow dawning one over the last months, that not only can I trust and act upon my deepest instincts, but I have the dearest obligation to do so.

I believe there is a groundedness, a deep security waiting for us all--waiting for us to finally tire of the self-serving fictions, and protective masks. "O say, what is truth?" asks the hymnodist Jean Jaques. "Tis the brightest prize that the riches of worlds can produce / Go search in the depths where it glittering lies / Or ascend in pursuit to the loftiest skies; / 'Tis an aim for the noblest desire."

A congregational singer may correctly read these lines as they pertain to doctrinal or religious truth. Important though that may be, I now posit... that we may never fully enjoy the fruits of doctrinal truth without first coming to intimate terms with the truth lying hidden in our own eternal soul.

Indeed, perhaps we have to search in the depths of our hearts, as well as ascend with our minds and spirits to the lofty skies. Back and forth, until we are at home both places...

Ooh, adventure--!