Where shall I look for Enlightenment? — by Joan Chittister
Where shall I look for Enlightenment?” the disciple asked.
“Here,” the elder said.
“When will it happen?” the disciple asked.
“It is happening right now,” the elder answered.
“Then why don’t I experience it?” the disciple persisted.
“Because you do not look,” the elder said.
“But what should I look for?” the disciple continued.
“Nothing. Just look,” the elder said.
“But at what?” the disciple asked again.
“At anything your eyes alight upon,” the elder answered.
“But must I look in a special kind of way?” the disciple went on.
“No. The ordinary way will do,” the elder said.
“But don’t I always look the ordinary way?” the disciple said.
“No, you don’t,” the elder said.
“But why ever not?” the disciple asked.
“Because to look you must be here. You’re mostly somewhere else,” the elder said.
(And this less lofty lesson from me: I am not big on resolutions, or giving advice to anyone trying to make positive changes, except to say, good on you, have courage, and when you flop, talk to yourself the same way you’d encourage a dear friend, or a grandchild– as the BCP says, to take failures not as a measure of your self-worth but rather as an opportunity for a new start. Every sunrise is, when you think about it. This year my overarching goal is to be here- instead of one — or three– steps ahead of myself. Wish me luck and I’ll wish you luck. We have got this.)
