November 09, 2024 – B

I don't believe in believing. 
I believe in knowing.
If we only knew what we know--
and knew only what we know--
we would be just fine.

As fine as the children Jesus
was talking about when he said,
"Unless you turn and become as children,
you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

Children know what they know.
And only what they know.
Growing up is knowing more than you know.
The more you know that you don't know,
the smarter you are,
and the better able you are 
to out-smart everyone else.

And you have no idea of what is called for,
or what's what,
or what to do about it.
And you drink too much
to keep from thinking about it.

We have to forget what we know
in order to know what we know.

"Listen to the flow, Luke!"
(It would be better if it had been,
"Listen to the flow"
instead of "Listen to the Force."
"The Force," suggests something 
overpowering, like Niagara Falls.
While "the flow" is more like Dugger's Creek falls,
a pitiful little thing
that looks like someone forgot to turn the hose off.

The flow of life is that way.
The Tao that can't be said or told,
explained or defined.
Something we know without knowing
what we know, or how we know it.
Like when we are sleepy or hungry.

But our body knows.

Our body knows all we need to know.
If we allow our body to direct us,
we will never stray from the path,
never drift from the Way.
Always be on the beam,
knowing what it is time for,
and doing what is called for,
time after time.

That kind of knowing is the best kind of knowing.
Like knowing "what kind of help
is the kind of help
that help is all about.
And what kind of help
is the kind of help
we all could do without"
(Shel Silverstein).