We spoke last time of the importance of our inner journey, its discovery and living according to our inmost self, who we are truly and deeply. The living out of that authentic identity flows into and through our particular gifts, and in response to our concrete life situation.
At the same time, we are exposed, from infancy on, through our society, its culture, the mass media, and the so-called social media, to an image of life, a script or story of who we are and what we should be. I believe that the predominant model goes against our most real self.
The prevalent model of life thinks and acts in terms of what has been called a hierarchical dualism. This worldview divides reality into two opposite poles: such as male and female, mind and matter, human and the natural worlds. It then regards one of these poles as superior, and considers that the superior should dominate the alleged inferior. This attitudes flows into sexism, racism, and environmental degradation. Thomas Berry sums up this situation: “Descartes killed the planet.”
I think that there are fundamental issues here that can be explored in separate reflections. One is an understanding of our identity, not as isolated and separate, but as interconnected, as part of everything that is, as embodied in the universe itself. Another is to come to a realization that the basic orientation of myself and of the universe itself, of which I am a part, is not towards competition and hostility, but toward kindness and compassion.
One approach to our life journey is offered in an early book of the late philosopher, Michael Novak (Ascent of the Mountain, Flight of the Dove: An Invitation to Religious Studies). He speaks of three levels of religion. We may speak today in alternative language, in terms of a living worldview, or a life direction, or a spirituality—that is, in terms of how we feel and see life, and how we live out our lives as a result.
(1) There is first of all, for Novak, our life story itself; the story we tell with our lives. Each one of us, he says, must choose the kind of person he or she will be–an identity. And the real choice that we make comes out, not so much in what we say, but in how we live, our life story. The way we actually live our lives reveals what we really think and value and care about, the identity and purpose our life expresses.
(2) The second level involves coming to an explicit awareness of the story we are living, and taking responsibility for it. This process involves becoming aware of where we are coming from-our mindset and heartset—the taken-for-granted vision and values out of which we think and act. We can then assess these and choose consciously which are genuinely true and valuable as far as we can see them. Along with this growing awareness of our life-story, we can develop a fuller sense that this life story of ours – who we are and where we belong – is in our own hands; and further, that we are responsible for the story our lives tell. We are responsible for finding and living out our true identity.
(3) The third level is coming to see our life story as part of a larger story. We come to see that our own stories are part of a larger story: not only the story of our family, culture, nation, but the story of the human race itself and of the world and earth in which it unfolds, indeed the of whole universe. From a spirituality standpoint, we may see our own story as and lived within or before an unseen divine Presence, an ultimate Source and Goal of lasting meaning.
We recognize that whatever energy, spirit, divinity is behind the whole universe flows within us and through us and encompasses ourselves and all that is. It is described by Teilhard de Chardin and Albert Einstein ultimately as love energy. Our own meaning is one that is discovered not invented; it is part of a wider meaning. Our own identity is part of a wider presence.
Thomas Merton expresses this sense of identity very fully. He says that we find the “real world,” not outside of us but in our own inner ground, in our deepest self. There, he says, we are mysteriously present, not only to ourselves bur to all other persons as well. We are present to the source from which we and all else flows. I once tried to sum up briefly the worldview of Thomas Merton in these words: I and each of us is a unique word uttered with meaning and love from the heart of the universe.
If we see our interconnected identity in this way, what is the next step flowing from this awareness. As we mentioned before, one approach is to ask what are my gifts, what do I have to offer and how and where and to whom do I offer these gifts. Another is to ask what is most needed in our society today and what do I have to offer that situation. As mentioned above, one approach to uncovering these gifts is to try to uncover the script, story, or life direction that we are following presently. We may then ask whether it really resonates with us or whether there is another deeper, truer, script trying to express itself.
At the same time, while it is essential to see what may be our unique contribution to the external world. Most of our lives are lived within a small circle of people we encounter in different ways and in different situations, from those to whom we have a close persona; relationship to those we encounter only in passing, in a store, walking down the street, and the like. In this situation, and in the larger context as well, the key seems to be kindness. The Dalai Lama has said: “My religion is simple. My religion is kindness.” We will explore the essential need of kindness in our next reflection.
We might end this reflection with a marvellous indigenous story, the story of the two wolves.
An old Grandfather said to his grandson, who came to him with anger at a friend who had done him an injustice… “Let me tell you a story.”
“I too, at times, have felt great hate for those who have taken so much, with no sorrow for what they do. But hate wears you down, and does not hurt your enemy. It’s like taking poison and wishing your enemy would die. I have struggled with these feelings many times. “
“It is as if there are two wolves inside me; one is evil and the other is good. One is good and does no harm. He lives in harmony with all around him and does not take offense when no offense was intended.”
“But…the other wolf… ah! The littlest thing will send him into a fit of temper. He fights everyone, all of the time, for no reason. He cannot think because his anger and hate are so great. It is helpless anger, for his anger will change nothing.”
“Sometimes it is hard to live with these two wolves inside me, for both of them try to dominate my spirit.”
The boy looked intently into his Grandfather’s eyes and asked, “Which one wins, Grandfather?” The Grandfather smiled and quietly said, “The one I feed.”
May you come to experience yourself as a being of the earth and the universe, as called to develop and share your gifts with one another, and to live and act out of love rather than hatred, beginning with a love for yourself–understood as an awareness and living out of your own sacredness.
Norman, July 10, 2025
