01
We can organize our life mathematically, logically, reasonably, rationally, inorganically, imposing order from the top down and from the outside in. And, we can organize our life inorganically, irrationally, unreasonably, naturally, following the order from the bottom up and from the inside out. We can lay out our life by the book. Setting goals and achieving them, deciding this and not that from the position of a chess master moving pieces in light of a desired end, making sure that everything is done right, on schedule exactly as we decree it is supposed to be. And, we can live our life as it comes, as a stream finds its way to the sea, not knowing where it is going or why we are doing it like this and not like that, and being surprised and amazed by everything that happens, unplanned and unexpected all along the way, arriving at the sea in a "Wow! I never imagined all This!" kind of realization, stunned at how it all came together to produce what it became. We can have a plan for our life that has nothing to do with our life's desire for itself. We can force, compel, and contrive our way to where we think we ought to be. And we can listen and watch, and respond to what needs to happen, when it needs to happen, the way it needs to happen, and wait to see where we are going and how we are going to get there. How we do it tells the tale. What is guiding our boat on its path through the sea?
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02
The Way has a mind of its own. It calls us to respond faithfully to its direction and drift, its current and flow, moment-to-moment in each situation as it arises-- doing what is needed, when it is needed, the way it is needed, because it is needed, and then moving on to what is needed now... "The Spirit is like the wind that blows where it will." The Spirit is like a man "reaping where he did not sow, and gathering where he did not scatter seed." Who knows what is next with The Way of the Spirit calling us to respond faithfully to its direction and drift, its current and flow, moment-to-moment in each situation as it arises? To live like that is to sit loose in the saddle and be light on our feet, ready for anything at any time, free of all doctrine and dogma, theology, dharma, expectation, conjecture, inference, presumption and opinion. Like a bird on the wing, a feather in the wind, a cork on the water, a bee in a field of flowers-- knowing what's now, with no idea of what's next, waiting, watching, listening to see. To live like that is to live meditatively, prayerfully, attentively, mindfully aware of what is happening now and what needs to happen in response, moment-by-moment, in each situation as it arises, all our life long.
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03
We have to do what is good whether it does any good or not-- and go on doing it, moment by moment, in each situation as it arises, all our life long. This is the Sisyphean Task that all of us are given at birth. We roll this rock up and down the hill our livelong life. A good life is the result of right seeing, right hearing, right knowing, right understanding, right doing and right being-- in each situation as it arises for as long as there are situations to arise. With no times-out and no days off. All that is in it for us is the joy of doing it and the gladness of having done it. The only thing keeping us from doing it is wanting something else, something different, something better, something more. This is the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Eden's redemption is the story of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Our role is to move from Adam and Eve to Jesus in our lifetime. To redeem Eden by way of Gethsemane. Living each moment the way it needs to be lived, for the joy of doing it and the gladness of having done it. That is all there is to it.
