Since the beginning of time, people have wondered, “Why am I here? What is my purpose?” Those questions why things like philosophy (the study of questions concerning topics like existence, reason, and knowledge) and theology (the study of the Divine and religious belief.) Our circumstances often seem unreasonable. Having a reason, a purpose, a goal, and meaning-making brings comfort, strength, and resilience to many people.
This is a perfect time of year for questioning our reasons because the seasons are changing. There’s less daylight. Leaves begin falling from the trees as they enter a dormant state. The temperatures are gradually dropping. Some animals will hibernate soon for the winter. It’s the time of year when we tend to catch coughs, colds, and flu. The holidays are coming – some people love them; some dread them often because of grief, a genuinely unreasonable feeling that no one deserves.
In other words, everything is changing as usual in the human experience. And once things change, they will turn around and change again. Change is something that many people are not at all uncomfortable with.
So, is there anything that is unchanging? Well, in many faith traditions, it is said that the Divine is constant, or at the very least, some aspects are unchanging. It is said in scripture that we are made in the image and likeness of God, so to my mind, there are unchanging things about us, too. Those aspects that are unchanging are what I focus on the: discerning my purpose, my reason, and my meaning-making.
Inspirational writer and grief counselor Mary Davis found herself amid change and the unreasonable experience of grief in her experience of divorce. She decided to face her grief by living in a log cabin for a full year. The cottage was located near the rise of Shenandoah National Forest and the foot of Blue Ridge Mountains. Surrounded by bucolic wilderness, she faced her feelings, practicing meditation and writing daily.
Her reason for all this? She did not have a particular purpose in mind other than to heal. However, the result of her writing her spiritual was a spiritual daybook entitled “Everyday Spirit.”
Incredible that out of such adverse conditions, such a well-loved book would be created, until you open the pages and discover that one of the ways she found reason in the unreasonable experience of grief was intention setting. Although she set no overarching goal of wealth or a new car, she came to know some measure of success by setting spiritual goals/intentions at the beginning of every month. Since we are in the first week of October, I’ll share her October goals, which became part of this daily spiritual study book. She writes about those beautiful aspects in our hearts that are unchanging and makes them monthly plans:
Let’s welcome October with a blessing that floats on the wind of this new month and new season of the soul:
“May we trust that we can rest now to rejuvenate the soul.
May we let go of what no longer serves us to make room for new growth.
May we remember that there is spring, and the light will come again.
May we have the faith of nature, knowing that every ending is also a beginning.”
I love how she used spiritual principles to change her experience of grief; however, in our human experience, I’ll impart that it is unrealistic to think things will be lavender and roses for her or anyone else who transforms their lives. Things change in this world, and then they change again.
Thankfully, there is no limitation to the number of times we can lean on the Unchanging Absolute and the unchanging aspects imparted to us as beloved creations!
I thank you for reading today. May you be abundantly blessed today.
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