Dear Spiritual Companions,

I sometimes wonder how the spirit is going to lead me when it comes time to write these weekly spiritual thoughts.  Today was one of those days.  Slowly, as my quiet time unfolded this morning, it came to me.  I will write about how in life we are often called to unlearn what we have been taught.  This is not meant to be a criticism of anyone who has taught us in the past.  No, in fact, one of the keys to unlearning is found in having something someone has passed on to us to unlearn.  It has carried significance for us for a period of time, but it is no longer needed. To be more specific it no longer fits in our view of life.   What  I have discovered over my lifetime of spiritual enlightenment is the gift of seeing when to hang onto certain thoughts and when to let them go.  Like an artist we are constantly painting the tapestry of our journey of learning and unlearning on our heart.

I think we are now ready for a question, “When is it time to learn something and when is it right to unlearn that very same thing?”  For me I know it is the moment to learn something when I feel it speaking to my spiritual being.  My inner being is like a little child inside of me who is jumping up and down getting excited about what is speaking to me.  The learning may come through an event, a conversation, a musical piece, something I am reading or a moment in nature.  It really doesn’t matter what venue it comes through or if no one else has similar experiences, it is lifting my spirit.  Each of us have a different journey so naturally we will be spoken to in ways that make sense to us and we can trust our inner voice.  This is extremely helpful when we encounter those who have the same answer for everyone or are sure they know what is right for us.  It is very wise to thank them and run in the opposite direction.  Religious, cultural and governmental Institutions are very tempted to have everyone follow the same path.  Free thinking or free spirits are dangerous to the perpetuation of the Institution.  It is alright for individuals to learn the stated doctrine of the group, but not acceptable to unlearn it.  Those on their own spiritual journey may still be a part of an Institution, but they will not accept the party line.  They may remain a part of the group because it is their calling, but they will be the very ones who open the doors to the evolution of the group itself.  One caution however, one really needs to be in touch with their own spirit to be a part of an Institution because is hard to continue to be who we are in the midst of doctrines and truths abounding around us.

Now it is time to address the second part of the question, When is it time to unlearn what we thought was so fitting?  For me I begin to feel a bit uneasy with a particular learning.  At the same time I run into ideas or individuals who challenge what I considered to be the truth.  The only way to move forward is to trust our spirit.  Sometimes what we have learned is simply the first step in being a part of a club.  We need to know the rules to join.  We accept what is being taught and it enables us to move along until the teachings don’t make any sense any more.  This is the crucial moment because now we are ready to reexamine them and choose whether they still fit our present spiritual needs.  Is it the moment to venture into new thought patterns or behaviors?  If we decide it is time there is a simple test to see if these new learning’s fit us.  If it is the right time we will feel the following: peace, joy, love, patience, kindness, gentleness, forgiveness, generosity and self control.  Any, a few or possibly all of them will go along with our new learning.  We may, however, still be tempted to get others to join us, but that is simply an attempt to get outside approval for our inside insights.   When we know something is right for us it doesn’t matter who is with us or against us.  We trust in the very essence of life for us.  We become a pathfinder for our own journey.  We are now free.  Life becomes an experience of learning, unlearning, learning, unlearning into eternity.  When life is static, when we think we have reached our destination we probably have something to unlearn.    

The bottom line for me is the more I have learned the more I realize how much is still to be learned.  I find this not only a very helpful way to live my life, but also an exciting way.

Peace

Gary