Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Strategic Monk

Home
Contemplative
Recreation, Outdoors and Religion
Going Beneath the Surface

Going Beneath the Surface

Last updated on: January 11, 2024 at 9:40 pm by Greg Richardson

0 Comments

Going Beneath the Surface 2024-01-11T21:40:55-08:00 Greg Richardson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Going Beneath the Surface

We think listening to sacred stillness is like stretching out and lying on the beach, not like going beneath the surface.

With our eyes closed, we try to clear our minds of everything which distracts us. The immense empty stillness spreads out like the ocean stretches from the beach. If only we could let go of our concerns and assumptions, we could look out to the horizon.

But standing on the beach looking out over the ocean, we only see the top of the water. There is more power, more life than we can imagine beneath the surface.

We are satisfied to merely skim across the water ignoring the real depth of potential.

Sacred stillness is more immense, more powerful, more filled with life than any ocean.

Our challenge is to be willing to go beneath the surface.

Standing on a California beach it is difficult to believe so much is happening beneath the surface. On a clear day with the sun shining, it is almost as if we could see across the ocean. The warm air and crashing waves fill our vision from our feet all the way to the horizon.

We stand on the beach to be drawn out of our own thinking and reflect on larger things.

It is easy for us to ignore the real action beneath the surface.

We forget the deep potential of listening to the depth of sacred stillness.

It takes only a few minutes for the surface of sacred stillness to overwhelm us. If we can quiet our minds enough to spend ten minutes we feel a sense of accomplishment.

Listening to sacred stillness is not about doing it well, not about floating on the surface. The depth of sacred stillness draws us in to find the treasures waiting for us.

Diving Deeper

Our world does not appear to value real listening. We have grown impatient with listening to other people, ourselves, and sacred stillness. We want fast results and concise answers.

People now are happy with an overview, a summary, a quick glance across the surface. Few of us are comfortable going beneath the surface and we have forgotten how to do it.

We live on the edge of a resource of vast power but are too distracted to appreciate it.

The power of sacred stillness makes us nervous and afraid. We want to be protected as we are drawn into the middle of its depth and life and power.

What is out there lurking in the depths?

Unlike the ocean, we do not need special gear to protect us in the depths of sacred stillness. There is not reason for us to stay on the surface or in the shallows. We can explore beneath the surface without tanks or suits or a protective cage.

We can leave our cages behind as we explore sacred stillness. Our exploration is strengthened more by what we let go than by how much we take with us.

It is a challenge to describe how we go beneath the surface of sacred stillness. Each of us follows our own path and discovers our own deep truths.

Listening to sacred stillness begins to show us how much there is for us to explore. We begin listening across the surface and open ourselves to the depths underneath it.

Going beneath the surface is not drudgery or struggle. Like children on the beach, we are learning how to play in the depths of sacred stillness.

Playing in the Depths

We have the opportunity to play beneath the surface of sacred stillness.

As we begin to listen we learn the significance of listening well. We begin to move from sitting at the edge toward playing in the depths.

Spiritual life is more than just sitting still and feeling comfortable. We are not merely customers or clients or patients of sacred stillness. Spiritual life is at work in us, transforming us and freeing us. We are at work, co-creating with spiritual life in the depths of sacred stillness.

How does this happen? What can we do to prepare and get ready? Where is this going to take us?

The fact is there is not a clear, concise plan with measurable objectives. There is more than we can imagine. We may not understand, which is the way it should be.

It is likely we will have more questions than answers.

We may feel we are being taken into depths we do not know how to handle. It may be longer than we have been beneath the surface.

We may get to a point and, looking back, not be sure about how we got there.

There is more to sacred stillness than we can possibly imagine or understand. What we know is that real life is beneath the surface.

How Do We Go Beneath the Surface?

We begin by listening to sacred stillness. Our daily practice can teach us important lessons. Like people learning to swim, we begin by putting our faces in the water.

We break the surface and open our eyes to learn what it is like. Listening each day helps us become comfortable beneath the surface. The depth and power and love of sacred stillness gets our attention and draws us into itself.

We grow accustomed to living in the depth beneath the surface and become thirsty for more.

It may look to others like we are sitting, looking out at the ocean but there is more. We are exploring and discovering, at play in spiritual life.

Our play takes us beyond expectations and demands, beyond rules and responsibilities.

Like children playing on the beach, we are not overwhelmed by the depth beneath the surface. Sacred stillness draws us in and shows us its secrets. We listen, we learn to be comfortable, and we begin to play.

How will we allow sacred stillness to take us into the depths beneath the surface today?

When will we spend time going beneath the surface to play in the depths this week?

[Image by Infomastern]

Greg Richardson is a spiritual director in Southern California. He is a recovering assistant district attorney and associate university professor and is a lay Oblate with New Camaldoli Hermitage near Big Sur, California. Greg’s website is http://StrategicMonk.com and his email address is [email protected].

Recreation, Outdoors and Religion

Blog

Sacred Stillness

Previous Post

January 9, 2024

Where Do We Look For God?

Next Post

January 16, 2024 Learning How to Pay Attention

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"Thus wrote Mahatma Gandhi: "Each night, when I go to sleep, I die. And the ..."

Dr.Cajetan Coelho

A Matter of Life and Death: ..."

"It's a Gandhian model of on-going-ness and togetherness. Day after day, week after week, month ..."

Dr.Cajetan Coelho

Practicing Community: How Do We Connect?

"Human beings love to experience uninterrupted and unending on-going-ness and togetherness. Easter offers that and ..."

Dr.Cajetan Coelho

Why is Easter Important?

"Friday in Holy Week is known as Good Friday. On Good Friday we remember the ..."

Dr.Cajetan Coelho

Is This a Particularly Holy Week?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Blog Book Reviews Everything Else Guest Posts Leadership Monastic Strategies Neighborhood Pilgrimages Sacred Stillness Spiritual Direction Spiritual Practices Work

Select a Month May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

True or False: Mark is the only Gospel that records Jesus asking 'Who touched my clothes?' after power went out from him.

Select your answer to see how you score.

TRUE FALSE