Building Your Spiritual Home

Double Vision

There are times when it helps to separate out two kinds of vision. Our first vision is aware of time, place, our list of to dos, the drama of our lives. The second vision is of the world of soul and is full of compassion and love. Instead of seeing others as neurotic, problematic, attractive or funny, we are aware of the soul of the person and see their striving, their wishes and efforts to be better. Sometimes when I am with a patient who is exuding resentment or bitterness, I tune out for a minute, unfocus my eyes and imagine the hurt and despair that are driving them. I can then feel compassion. At these times, I am seeing them more as God sees them, and as God sees us. I am using second vision.

We can use both kinds of vision. First vision is much better when we are driving a car, or working on our income taxes. But the more time we spend in second vision, the closer we come to the world of Love: to God’s world. And the more we dissolve our sense of a self that is connected to the surface of things, the more we can live in that second world. This is God’s realm, where time and space dissolve. It is probably here that “mystical” experience occurs.

1) Have you ever had the experience of tuning out from the anger or bitterness a friend is expressing and sensing the pain and struggle within?
Does that change your reaction?

CHAPTERS

GET A LIFE
THE JOY OF A DEPRESSED MOTHER
OPENING MANY DOORS
GETTING COMFORTABLE WITH ANGER
THE PATH OF MEDITATION
GIVING UP CONTROL
MARRIAGE AS A CHANGE AGENT
STRUCTURES THAT SUPPORT LIFE
VERMONT AND NATURE
TO HELL WITH DIGNITY
COMPANIONS ON THE ROAD
DOUBLE VISION
WHAT SHAPES LIFE
DISMANTLING SELF
TOLERATING GOD’S LOVE
MAKING FRIENDS WITH GOD