3.3 Seeing and Entering
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The explanation for and the introduction to this series is located here - 1.0 When Faith Becomes Collateral Damage. All previous sections are available on my personal blog page.
First, Becoming Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable
In 1997, my company sent our newly merged management team on an Outward Bound weekend in the forest and hills of Western North Carolina. We were all looking forward to it, imagining days of light hiking and nights of sitting around the campfire, smoking cigars, drinking red whiskey, and eating steaks that someone would cook for us. Instead, we had days full of hiking, rock climbing, repelling, ropes courses, and nights with lanterns, creek water, and dehydrated foods.
We were miserable, but as I look back on the picture of our team, I can't believe how meaningful that experience was. I came face-to-face with fear on the ropes course and felt it physically in my gut and the trembling in my arms and legs. But I did it, held onto my partner, and survived. As I stood on the platform to dismount on the swing, I remember thinking., "Well, this may be it.” I closed my eyes and took a swing down to the ground, which left me dizzy, nauseous, and exhilarated. I did it - and survived.
When I've been facing a difficult task, I would look at this photo and say to myself, "If I could do that, I can do this.” I would gaze at the smiles on our faces and know that they came from the feeling of accomplishment.
I mention the story and share this picture because it has a significant meaning. Several times over the years, when I've been facing a difficult task, I would look at this photo and say to myself, "If I could do that, I can do this.” I would gaze at the smiles on our faces and know that they came from the feeling of accomplishment, from facing our fears and pushing through them. If you decide to take the spiritual path Jesus explains to Nicodemus, you'll be going on an "inward bound" trip replete with its own fear-facing experiences. You will develop a quality that Adam Grant calls “becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable,” but you will know the joy that only comes from pushing through to a better you.
Bo Lozoff, Deep & Simple. Every person and situation in our lives is merely an ‘inward bound’ ropes course or boulder or cliff designed precisely to bring out the best in us.
How to Go Beyond Seeing - to Entering
In the previous segment, I discussed the concept of the Kingdom as the “area of influence” of a King, Mayor, or individual. It is where "what they want done is done.” In this segment, we are picking up where we left off in the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. He is explaining how to move from an external (outside in) operating system to an internal (inside out) one. In his words, Jesus called it “Seeing and Entering the Kingdom of God or” moving into God's Kingdom, where “what he wants done is done - through us.”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.Be forewarned. While this sounds like a supernatural event and a once-and-done deal, it is not in my experience. Sure, it has a beginning, but it is a process as natural as learning to walk. There's some crawling and falling, then getting back up and trying again. All the while, I’m moving from physical (external) to spiritual (internal) consciousness, from actions of self-preservation to self-sacrifice. This is a normal part of entering the Kingdom.
Remember, “being born of water and Spirit” reminds me of my dual origin - the water birth from my mother and the spiritual birth from my soul. This is about motivation - which one is in control of my daily actions.
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SIDEBAR. Self-preservation, as a basic human instinct, is the fundamental tendency of humans and nonhuman animals to behave to avoid injury and maximize chances of survival (e.g., by fleeing from dangerous situations or predators). Self-sacrifice is giving up one's interests or wishes to help others or advance a cause. (Good Samaritan)
“I Pledge Allegiance…”
I like to think about entering this new realm like moving to a new country and learning to adapt to its language and customs. It's about a new way of daily living, here and now, like moving from the United States of America to the United States of God without changing "locations.
Think about it: if I wanted to become a citizen of another country, I would have to renounce my former citizenship, pledge allegiance to the new country’s laws and leaders, and learn its language and culture. It's the same for the Kingdom of God. The change happens within our consciousness, leading to a new way of seeing and doing. To “see” is awareness, to know that a new country exists; to “enter” is action, to move there and be physically involved in what’s happening.
I know. I know. It’s easier said than done, but don't trick yourself into thinking it's supernatural and only attainable by Jesus. It is extraordinary but not supernatural. What’s supernatural about the Samaritan using his time, energy, and money to help the helpless? Or the Boy Scout taking time to help a little old lady across the street. These are everyday actions that come from internal motivation. These are “doers of the word, not hearers only,” who go from awareness to action. Sure, they may be nervous or afraid at first, but they tap into their spirit for the extraordinary energy, the Grace, and the spiritual adrenaline to push through.
A Personal Example
Here's how this plays out in my life. I have realized the importance of creating quiet moments where occasionally I sense “special thoughts,” non-Alan ideas swaddled in love and grace. (I recognize these thoughts because I'm not naturally generous or compassionate, but rather “Alan-centric.”) Next, I fend off the incoming nervousness, uncomfortableness, and fear. I set aside the mental rationalizations of “why not to act” and consciously decide to act. Don't be misled; I'm not talking about healing the sick or raising the dead. It may be as simple as making a call, sending a note, recommending a book, keeping quiet, or any one of the number of small actions. And, in full transparency, I don't always act on the ideas.
Entering the Kingdom becomes a daily, progressive practice of learning to act on more of the ideas today than yesterday and to use more of my time and energy to do good for those who cross my mental or physical path.
It signals that I have come under the influence of this inner voice, the creator of the universe or, as Jesus would say, the Father. I sense his approval and the same “joy of accomplishment” that I see in the Outward Bound picture.
While the actions are simple and commonplace, this realization is startling. The life force in all creation exists within you and me, providing us with the intelligence and energy to see and act. I had to counter the feelings of “not good enough” by asking myself, “Why not?” Then, I try to harness this energy and navigate life one day at a time. When I do, it produces peace and eliminates any worry about forcing specific outcomes.
How Others Described the Process:
“It is not the end of the physical body that should worry us. Instead, our concern must be to live while we’re alive - to release our inner selves from the spiritual death that comes with living behind a facade designed to conform to external definitions of who and what we are.”
“The calm mind allows one to connect with the inner self, the Soul, the very source of our being. That’s where the music lives. That’s where my music comes from”
“Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.”
“As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live.”
What’s the “Trigger?”
In the following few verses, let's review how Jesus teaches and see what they mean to us. He leads Nicodemus to think about the true motivation of his binary being - is it from the flesh or spirit?
6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. In my words, where do my intelligence and energy originate? Is it from the flesh to preserve my body or the Spirit to release my soul?
Jesus says that the “trigger” for the opening and unfolding of my consciousness is this internal recognition of my ultimate source. In his words elsewhere, “Seek ye first.”
7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ He teaches that those who originate and operate from their spirit appear like the ripples caused by the wind. I can feel and hear the wind but not see it.
8 The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Jesus knows the logical mind cannot process actions like turning the other cheek, loving your enemy, and a Samaritan helping a wounded Jew. That’s why…..
9 Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”Perhaps Jesus then looks over his shoulder to make sure all the guys are still asleep, then turns toward Nicodemus with a wink and a smile and softly whispers,
10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? It was his way of asking, "Shall I go on?" which we will do in our next section.
Is There a Takeaway?
My takeaway from this segment starts with a series of questions that help me simplify the language used to describe being "born again" and "born from water and spirit." I do that by mustering the courage and curiosity to ask myself: “What is my primary motivation?”
Is it from the flesh to preserve my body or the Spirit to release my soul?
Am I merely the offspring of my parents and left to “my own understanding?”
Am I a part of the eternal creation with access to its life force and the ability to see the unseeable?
How can I know the answer to these questions?
Again, I must get my head out of the clouds, stop overthinking, and review my calendar and to-do lists for the past 90 days. Are most of the entries about me? My entertainment? My pleasure? My convenience? My security? Or are there items that were designed to enhance the lives of others? There’s my answer, plain and simple.
What if I don’t like the answer? That’s when I grab a legal pad and ask myself what type of person I want to become in the key roles that life has me playing: Husband, Father, grandfather, friend, neighbor, etc.
After I get a clear picture of that person, I think through what he would do, jot down any ideas, and wait for one of those thoughts to resonate. At that point, I grab my calendar and to-do list, put that thought in, and summon the energy and courage to do it.
You may be thinking, “That doesn't sound very spiritual!” I thought the same at first, but then I realized that the actions of the Good Samaritan or the Father of the Prodigal Son were not necessarily spiritual actions. They were just the natural actions of the person they had become and their situation. Remember Mother Teresa, who said, “Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you."
The next segment returns to the darkened room and the hushed conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus.
