Developing a living philosophy, we “go into the desert” – we leave the everyday world, and enter the world of reflection – to get clear about the whole of our work, and to become whole relative to our work. Once wholeness is achieved – when “it’s good enough” – we re-enter the everyday world. By our re-entering the everyday world, the Master of virtue realizes the value of the gifts to the reflective efforts. An image aids in seeing this process:
The anxious and excited horse is saddled, knowing full well that the ride – the intended ride – is about to begin. As the ridden horse leaves the desert stable, glimpses of what lies ahead begin to enter, increasing the horse’s excitement, an excitement that builds as the horse sees new meaning and potential in the familiar. Lingering doubt becomes harder to sustain… doubt is displaced by the growing sense of “This is the ride – THIS IS FOR REAL!”
Practice, training and development are over. Anxiety and/or fear dissipate as faith grows stronger… a faith reassured by the Master’s voice: “Everything is in its place.” And so the horses – a harmonious team – willfully give themselves over to their Rider: the ride has begun. A new echo emerges from the team: “Come Holy Spirit, let us be whole enough; help us, guide us, so that we never shy from the path… and should we shy, a real possibility since we have repeatedly done so in the past, do what is necessary to bring us back on path… for we truly wish that “Thy will,” not “my will,” be done.
