We find ourselves on a spiritual journey, one that challenges us to embrace the power of “and.” As we reflect on this concept, we realize that our growth doesn’t come from finding easy answers or clinging to comfortable truths. Instead, it’s in the struggle with paradoxes and contradictions that we find wisdom and transformation.
Our path began with the realization that life isn’t as simple as we once believed. We entered this journey with our own version of order, our own understanding of how the world works. But as we ventured further, we found ourselves in the midst of disorder, our certainties shaken and our assumptions challenged. It was uncomfortable, even frightening at times, but we pressed on.
Now, we stand at the precipice of reorder, and we see that it requires something more from us. We’re called to hold the tension of opposites, to live in the “land of the and.” This isn’t easy – our minds naturally seek resolution, clear answers, and definitive truths. But we’re learning that spiritual maturity means embracing complexity and living with questions that may never be fully answered.
We’re beginning to see that the most important word in our spiritual vocabulary might be that little “and” that bridges seeming opposites. It’s not about choosing between action and contemplation, between doing and being, between the inner journey and the outer work. It’s about finding a way to hold both, to live in the creative tension between them.
As we struggle with this, we’re reminded of the image of the cross – not just as a symbol of suffering, but as a plus sign, an “and” that brings together heaven and earth, divine and human. We’re learning to add on forgiveness when we want to judge, to include compassion when we’re tempted to exclude, to choose freedom when we feel constrained by our own limitations or the expectations of others.
We’ve come to understand that our individual temperaments and gifts are important, but they’re not the whole story. Some of us are naturally drawn to action, always ready to do, to produce, to make things happen. Others of us find our home in contemplation, in silence, in the deep wells of inner reflection. We’re learning to honor these natural inclinations while also pushing ourselves beyond them.
For those of us who are doers, we’re discovering the value of stillness, of stepping back and allowing space for reflection and discernment. We’re learning that our actions are more powerful and purposeful when they flow from a place of inner groundedness. For those of us who are more contemplative, we’re finding the courage to step out, to engage with the world in concrete ways, even when it feels uncomfortable or unfamiliar.
In this process, we’re all encountering the shadow side of our gifts. The zealous among us are facing our tendency towards self-righteousness and judgment. The quiet ones are grappling with our inclination to withdraw and disengage. But as we confront these shadows, we’re discovering a new humility – not just towards ourselves, but towards others. We’re learning to extend the same grace to others that we’re learning to give ourselves.
We’re realizing that this journey requires courage. It’s not easy to leave our comfort zones, to engage with people and ideas that challenge us, to open ourselves to new ways of thinking and being. But we’re also discovering that this courage brings with it a new kind of freedom. As we expand our circles of understanding and compassion, we’re finding a deeper, richer experience of life and faith.
In this expansion, we’re learning to avoid exclusion wherever possible. We’re discovering that the body of Christ – and indeed, the family of humanity – is always bigger than we imagined. We’re embracing difference and diversity, not as threats to our identity, but as opportunities for growth and enrichment. We’re leaving our own versions of Kansas, venturing out into a world that’s more complex, more challenging, and ultimately more beautiful than we ever realized.
As we do this, we’re also learning the importance of discernment. We’re each discovering our own growing edge in this paradox of “and.” For some of us, it means learning to act when we’d rather remain in contemplation. For others, it means cultivating stillness in the midst of our busy doing. We’re learning to listen deeply – to ourselves, to others, to the world around us, and to the divine whisper that calls us forward.
In this journey, we find inspiration in the words of St. Francis: “I have done what is mine to do; may Christ teach you what is yours to do.” We’re learning that our path doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. We don’t need to be Francis or Mother Teresa or Martin Luther King Jr. We simply need to be fully ourselves, embracing both our gifts and our limitations, our strengths and our growing edges.
We’re discovering that true spirituality isn’t about achieving some perfect state of enlightenment or holiness. It’s about becoming more fully human, more deeply connected to ourselves, to others, to the earth, and to the divine. It’s about expanding our capacity to love, to forgive, to act with courage and compassion.
As we continue on this path, we’re learning to hold the tension between the already and the not yet. We celebrate the growth we’ve experienced, the new understandings we’ve gained, the ways we’ve learned to embrace the “and.” At the same time, we recognize how far we still have to go. We’re aware of the ways we still fall short, the areas where we struggle to hold paradox, the times when we retreat into old, comfortable patterns.
But in this too, we’re learning to hold the “and.” We’re both works in progress and beloved children of the divine. We’re both flawed humans and bearers of the divine image. We’re both limited by our own perspectives and capable of expanding into greater love and understanding.
As we move forward, we commit ourselves anew to this journey of the “and.” We embrace the struggles and the joys, the questions and the glimpses of wisdom. We open ourselves to new challenges and new graces. We step out in courage, grounded in contemplation and moved to action. And in all of this, we trust that we are held in a love that is big enough to encompass all of our paradoxes, all of our contradictions, all of our messy, beautiful humanity. This is the path of love, the journey of the “and,” and we walk it together, one step at a time.
SUMMARY
The concept of “and” is crucial in spiritual growth, representing the ability to hold paradoxes and contradictions. Wisdom comes from struggling with conflicts and dissonance, not from finding easy answers. The cross can be seen as an “and” or plus sign, symbolizing the addition of forgiveness, compassion, and freedom in our responses. People typically lean towards either action or contemplation based on their temperament, but true growth involves embracing both. Recognizing the dark side of our gifts leads to humility and acceptance of others’ flaws. Expanding one’s worldview requires courage to leave the familiar and embrace diversity. The spiritual journey involves discovering one’s growing edge in the paradox of “and.” St. Francis exemplified this by doing what was his to do and encouraging others to find their own path. Ultimately, the goal is to become a universal person, connecting with all of creation.
