Lighthouse Renewal Center ã 2003

WORDS, WORDS, WORDS

(Required Reading)

Words are a terrible way to communicate the deeper realities of the spiritual life.   But we are humans, not angels, and words seem to be the best we have.  In deep contemplation, where no words exist, one can go deeper, see clearer, and know in the heart and spirit in ways that cannot be expressed in words. 

We have found that a little inaccuracy in the use of words can save a thousand words of boring explanations.  For example, if, to drive home a point we say, “The secular world glorifies the intellect; God prefers the heart,” we are not being anti-intellectual.  Don’t get angry.  We have a message, and we’ve packaged it in this verbal shorthand. 

Hence, a word of caution.  When you read these teachings, listen deeper—down a few layers—to the message hidden inside seemingly puzzling words.  We are trying to get past the limitations of words, whose meanings tend to remain on the surface, in order to describe a much deeper reality. 

There is always the danger that the reader will miss a metaphor, or a connotation, and embrace only the literal meaning of words.  This can lead to a shallow understanding of the Mini, and to missing the deeper realities being discussed.   

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Feb. 05