This photo is one of my favorites last week from Malcolm Island. Dana and I walked in the quiet of the forest. Amongst tall Cedars. And Douglas Firs. And amongst abundant green. The shapes from among the trees have a way of coming to life with just a little attention. It’s my love of the unseen, of the mystery.
Yesterday, a younger person (in her early 20s) asked me, “Do you consider yourself a religious person? Do you consider yourself a spiritual person?”
I like it that she was asking the question. It was genuine. There’s a hunger for meaning that I see in many young people. Wanting to make sense by hearing underneath the noise.
My response was quite clear and direct. “I don’t think of myself as much of a religious person. I do thing of myself as quite a spiritual person.”
I love it that she followed up. “What do you mean by that?” Again, the hunger for meaning. Genuine.
I shared what has been true for me. A simplicity that has guided me. “I believe there is more unseen than there is seen. I believe we live in an inherent mystery. Those beliefs lead me to be quite curious. I like living with curiosity. It feels kind and helpful.”
All of the landed quite well in her. Seemed a bit relieving to be told some simple truth. Not fancy, and without need to evangelize.
Most of us are searching, right? For what makes sense. For what has integrity. For some grounding in how we contribute. To what is seen and to what is unseen. For how we welcome being moved by what is seen and what is unseen.
