Not One, Not Two

Benedict, whose whole way of life is steeped in the psalms, relies heavily on the psalms here to prove God's probing presence to the individual soul. God, Benedict says quite clearly, is within us to be realized, not outside of us to be stumbled upon. It is not a game of hide and seek we play in the spiritual life. It is simply a matter of opening our eyes to the light which drives out the darkness within us.

"How does a person seek union with God?" the seeker asked."The harder you seek," the teacher said, "the more distance you create between God and you.""So what does one do about the distance?""Understand that it isn't there," the teacher said."Does that mean that God and I are one?" the seeker said."Not one. Not two.""How is that possible?" the seeker asked."The sun and its light, the ocean and the wave, the singer and his song.--Not one. Not two."....

Humility lies in knowing who we are and what our lives are meant to garner. The irony of humility is that, if we have it, we know we are made for greatness, we are made for God.

Joan Chittister, The Rule of Benedict: Insights for the Ages