The following is a series of attached photos sent from Liza to the group. As usual, we publish typed excerpts of these illuminated texts along with the original photo. The best way is to read the text, of course, is to to experience it in its illuminated form.
- But, of course, we frequently feel called to explain our beliefs, for we exist in a civilization in which existence is characterized by disbelief, skepticism, cynicism, ironic self-detachment, and so on. To that, I write this: To believe in something fiercely enough to defend it in the face of persecution, laughter, and cruel judgment is half the battle's triumph already. But that's only the good news. The terrible, horrible, no good, very bad news is that the other half of the battle is far more grueling; this half will be plagued by constant failure, punctuated with frequent doubts, and will wound us beyond recognition. It's this half of the battle in which we must transmute our internal into the external realities of our day to day lives.
- Let's lighten the tone a bit, shall we? Moving onto this next Roman numerated point hints at progress already, though not because the murky waters are behind us. Rather because the murky waters are all around us, yet here we still are paddling on nonetheless. We've not yet drowned, and I assure you of our safety in staying afloat as long as we each remember: none of us are perfect, nor will we ever be.
- There will, of course, be many times in which our actions veer from the path made straight by our beliefs. And Art, you're absolutely right. Burning bridges, habitual impatience, the inability to personify the values our beliefs set forth for us are all, indeed, wayward of our path. However, I included the "Life in the Womb" excerpt in my last note in hopes of emphasizing this point exactly. (key words: in hopes). Yes. We will fail my friends. Yes, at times we will act in discordance with our beliefs. Yes, we will most certainly sin during this lifetime despite our greatest efforts not to. Yet, what matters most, we must try all the same. In remembering our earthly imperfections, we must renew our hope through the understanding that we will never fail nor fall to depths too deep to ascend. The path will always be waiting to welcome us back to our motorized home upon it, so long as our beliefs resist eviction from their permanent home within.
- I can't stress enough how much this being human is a process, and a trying one at that. Each of us is no more than a work in progress, or as my boy Rumi says, a guest house. And, like that, I've found my next point or rather it's found me. Why I say your faith is "unrelenting." Why I say you've seen the face of God and now you must live in separation from it.
- I say the above no because in O'Connor's words you "lead a holy life." I say this instead to highlight how cognizant you are that you do not. You don't claim to be a saint. You remain grounded in humility because you recognize the struggles. And what is more, you recognize the frequent failures within these struggles. I say this because you see your failures as failures and you yearn to make them right. You yearn for God's love.
Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they are a crowd of sorrows who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still treat each guest honorably.
