Shadow

     Let’s review. According to Walter Wink, we are not fully human. We are only partially human, fragmentarily human, fleetingly human.  So, our task in life is to grow, transform, evolve into fully-human beings. At the same time David Benner cautions us that becoming a fully-human being is not the same as striving after perfection. Nobody is perfect. Perfection is not the point. Nor is getting one’s act together or making the most money or having the most accolades.

     So then, what is the point? What is this becoming fully human all about then?

     Differently from the monastic thought that spiritual growth begins with an ascent, spiritual growth for one who is becoming human, may ironically begin with a descent, a figurative death or surrendering. There in the depths of our being is where we can deal with the shadow side of ourself. That and the false personas we’ve created to veil the shadow self, to veil that which we refuse to recognize about ourselves and what we do not want others to perceive. Maybe becoming human involves coming to terms with our shadow. And then, maybe becoming human is about embracing the reality of who we really are beyond the shadow, or which balances our shadow, our true self.

     According to Fr. Richard Rohr, “Religion is always in some way about discovering our true self (or soul), which is also to discover God, who is our deepest truth.”

     Along these lines, here is a portion of a prayer by the Lutheran Pastor and Martyr, Dietrich Bonhoeffer

         O God, early in the morning I cry to you.

         Help me to pray

         And to concentrate my thoughts on you:

         I cannot do this alone,

         In me there is darkness, but with you there is light;

         I am lonely,

         but you do not leave me;

         I am feeble in heart, but with you there is help;

         I am restless,

         but with you there is peace:

         In me there is bitterness, but with you there is patience;

         I do not understand your ways, but you know the way for me...

                                                                                           - Dietrich Bonhoeffer