Copyright (c) 2010 Scott F Paradis
Observe nature's systems and cycles: harmony and symmetry are features of the natural world. Everything appears to operate in rhythmic, regular cycles. The blooming of flowers, the behavior of cats, the flow of water, the seasons, children at play - all follow describable patterns. We experience and are part of a mutually dependent environment, a system. Order and purpose underlie this system.
Children, and even imaginative adults, occasionally lose themselves in the fantasy of being a superhero, someone with superhuman powers. The superhero possesses the knowledge, the strength, the abilities, and the confidence to do things far beyond the capabilities of ordinary mortals. In our everyday adult lives, though this fantasy remains appealing, we face a different reality. We can't, in fact, control the stars, whip up the wind, nor at times get our car to start. Often the mundane circumstances of life leave us feeling powerless and helpless — hardly a superhero.
Who or what is in charge? Apparently not me!
Great spiritual teachers through the ages point to something more, some ultimate, true reality distinct from mundane existence, a reality beyond what we see, beyond what we can see, a reality that transcends our senses — fulfilling beyond measure.
Some power greater than ourselves animates our experience, has caused us to be. Something great sustains us, energizes us, moves us. Joy is not found in the illusion of what surrounds us here. True joy is realized by accepting the journey through this reality to an ultimate reality.
Ultimate reality is that truth we cannot know through our senses. Ultimate reality is beyond intellect, beyond reason. Though we experience aspects of it in all we see, feel, and do, we can know it only through our higher selves. We know something beyond this time and space exists by faith. Faith in something greater than the partial whole we see is that aspect of reality we sense deep inside. We yearn to be whole. We yearn for another reality - ultimate reality.
On the one hand, we have a physical reality that is easy to verify and, as it is tangible, is seemingly simple to understand. We experience physical reality through our senses every day in concrete ways. On the other hand we have ultimate reality, which is mysterious and, for most of us, seemingly difficult, if not impossible to understand, accept, acknowledge, or know.
The means to experience physical reality and the truth of ultimate reality is acceptance or openness. The path from isolation, desolation, and despair to the truth of prosperity, freedom, peace, and joy is the way of faith.
The promise and potential we realize in life corresponds in great measure to the degree to which we accept and are open to life's limitless possibilities. Something more powerful than me is making this all worthwhile. Know this truth and it will set you free.
