Dear Mike,

Thank you so much for your response to my post on the Inner
Voice.What a wonderful List this is where people who just "met" can
discuss matters of the most importance. I think our longing for
Transcendence, as Thoreau says, "prevents us from being triflers." (
though sometimes I find myself too distracted by trifles!)
About the Inner Voice....your letter was very helpful to me. I
especially needed to be reminded that "the first mistake is trying to
live perfectly." I've read that "perfection is a form of self abuse."
Trying for perfection certainly abuses access to the Inner Voice as
well. What helps with my striving for perfection of my dialectical
self is when I can stop and realize that my expecting perfection from
myself shows a real lack of Humility.... as well as a lack of self-
surrender.
Your "second step" which is "face those imperfections and not do
battle against them" was a message I really needed to hear. The
Buddhists say, "End the battle with your mind." I would so like to
end it and your words were helpful in that direction. What you wrote
about "the safest place to be during a hurricane is in the middle of
it" (not battling it nor running away from it) reminded me that there
is always Stillness in the "eye of the storm"... the Still Center
within. I also like to remember the image of Jesus in the boat,
calming the storm at sea. The "Rose" in the Sanctuary of our Heart
can calm any storm so long as we turn to it. Hans mentioned "the
little Tao" in the heart and that has been immensely helpful to me.
I'm learning to turn to that more. Its a challenge but so worth it if
I want to follow the Path of Return. And I do!
My favorite lines of yours were in the step "belief" when you
wrote "Belief that there is another essence inside us that is beyind
anything that we can ever be and by resigning ourselves to it in
total self-surrender" and "This belief must be soaked in love. The
love of everything that is light and everything that is love" and
that love is a "flowing stream." Very inspiring words to take on the
journey. I have often felt what you wrote near the end of your
letter... "all your efforts have been in vain and you are about to
give it all up then this is the right moment. Give it all up to the
light within you." I want to. This reminded me of George Mac
Donald's words as quoted by C.S. Lewis who looked on MacDonald as one
of his chief spiritual teachers... he said that when all seems to
have failed and we can stil turn to God and say "You are my refuge"
than that is the beginning of real Faith. Thank you Michael for the
letter and the assurance that "there's a fire burning in there than
will help you."I needed to hear that. Too often I've turned within
and found nothing (but I think that may be part of the "The Cloud of
Unknowing" - not being able to know it with the mind of senses and
refraining from trying to reach Home with the mind and senses.
How blessed that you "reached a point where I could actually hear
what was really essential." I've touched that point but have not
managed to stay connected consistently. And as "The Little Prince"
reminds us "It is only with the Heart that one can truly see. What is
essential is invisible to the eye."
Blessings and thank you,
Cathy