July 01, 2023 – A

Atlantic Moonrise 09/15/2006 Oil Paint Rendered — Ocracoke Island, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina
What is missing from our life? 
What are we seeking? 
What do we need that we do not have?

Pondering this, 
I realize that the world seeks 
release/relief from the burdens of life—
the uncertainties, 
the insecurities. 

People seek reassurance, 
companionship, 
security, 
certainty,
peace...

The ground of all religion is 
hope for the future--
some sense that everything is going to be okay.

I think that is pitiful, sad. 

So many people feel not okay. 
Not confident. 
Not grounded in who they are, 
in their life as it is,
in knowing where the next meal is coming from… 

In not knowing where to find 
the basic needs of life—
in not being able to trust themselves to life, 
to their experience of being alive.

Essential insecurity
is the common ground of the species.

The multitudes are 
“like sheep without a shepherd.” 
Lost and alone. 
At the mercy of anyone, 
any thing, promising them 
security and hope for 
today and tomorrow.

And have been that way 
from the beginning of human existence.

All of which is to say  
it is important that we 
run a "vulnerability check"
from time to time
to see what shape
our psychic foundation is in,
and keep an eye on 
what may be motivating 
our thoughts/feelings/actions/
being-in-the-world.

And take the necessary measures
to restore our soul,
and reassure ourselves
that we are stable, 
secure and capable of 
finding what we need
to do what needs to be done.

–0–

Published by jimwdollar

I'm retired, and still finding my way--but now, I don't have to pretend that I know what I'm doing. I retired after 40.5 years as a minister in the Presbyterian Church USA, serving churches in Louisiana, Mississippi and North Carolina. I graduated from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, in Austin, Texas, and Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, Louisiana. My wife, Judy, and I have three daughters, five granddaughters, one great granddaughter, and a great grandson on the way, within about ten minutes from where we live--and are enjoying our retirement as much as we have ever enjoyed anything.

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