A friend of mine, who usually doesn’t participate in our communions, said she would attend this Thursday; interested that she is in the path toward the inner Sacred. This made me realize that I need to put a little more reflection and words into this week’s gathering.

This theme of Searching for the Sacred stems from my observations during the past few days wandering throughout France. People sharing the importance of belonging to such and such groups, which seems to provide some sort of guardianship, or moral protection, or even impetus to go forward.

This is how I interpret their spiritual or religious connection, based on the prism that colors my reality.

Friends of mine, who are masons, mentioned the importance of studying within a group, and the friendly push they receive during their studies.

Last year, during one of their public meetings, values of the congregation were shared with us: Liberty, Equality, Fraternity and, above all, it seems, laïcité (secularism).

These are irrevocable French values, at least since the Revolution of 1789.

Why would someone need to ‘receive’ an additional coat of value-conditioning in addition to what the citizens of their country inherit?

Are we / they getting a double whammy here?

Another friend of mine explained to me that she wouldn’t engage into such or such behavior because she is catholic. That is fine, but why can’t she use her own conscience, her personal wisdom and compassion, to assess the inadequacies of such behavior?

Despite the comfort they provide, don’t these groups take us on to the outer road, on to the path that looks outside ourselves to obtain confirmation (and conformation) or support?

How much of our ‘inner Sacred’ do we forgo when we join these groups, and when we look outside for answers and security of mind?

My propensity toward walking the ‘inner Sacred’ is clear by now; yet it doesn’t tell how one should do to engage this most adventurous path?

There may be answers for some and that do not work for others. And I do not have all the answers. The answers I have are those that ‘do the work’ for me, that propel me forward.

Clearly, they are about listening to what comes, to what knocks at the door, and asserting myself.

Asserting myself with Love and Compassion, and telling what and why it doesn’t work for me. Such an instance occurred yesterday evening at dinner time while talking to my brother. I said what I had to say, clearly aware of the need to assert myself, and our conversation went on beautifully.

These ‘assertiveness pointers’ were highlighted for me during our retreat in the south of France this past June. It seems they are still working wonder!

Looking forward to exploring ‘our Way within’ with you All this Thursday!

Love & much Light

Image below: what appears to be a druidic site near Nebias, south of France