Calvinists claim total depravity. Buddhists, Buddha nature. Mystics, Christ consciousness. Materialists, atoms and randomness. To which I say: Sure. Maybe. Whatever. I’ve wrestled with these questions like Jacob wrestling the angel. When I gave up the battle, dropped judgment and concepts, I found such sweetness in struggle’s absence. Not that life lacks the bitter. But my labeling and resistance turned it sour. Anthony de Mello preaches the liberation of “I’m an ass, you’re an ass.” Gregory Boyle claims we’re all unshakably good. Ginsberg, Emerson and Blake point to the holiness of all things. To which I say: Yes, we’re all holy asses.
In Numbers 22, Balaam’s donkey sees the angel in the road that the prophet can’t.
If this resonates, I’d love to hear from you. A comment, a share, or even just a like goes a long way. Writing into the silence is its own practice, but knowing the work lands makes it easier to keep showing up.