Trusting that Still, Small Voice

Have you ever had a situation where you knew something on an intellectual level, but you really did not know that something on a deep, heart-felt level?

Let me give an example of this. Recently, Peg and I had the joy of being on our honeymoon in Kauai, Hawaii. Ironically, it was at the same time that Hurricane Lala decided to blow through the island.

We were fortunate that only the electricity went out and a few bridges were flooded for roughly 24 hours. Now, growing up on Long Island I had experienced many hurricanes. Intellectually I knew the “drill” as it were.

So I decided to walk into the closet to see if the hotel had left some candles or a flashlight to deal with the hurricane-induced darkness. It was pitch black in the closet, so I went over to the electric light switch and flipped it on.

Of course, nothing happened. The closet remained dark. Then I said to myself., “Oh yes, we are in the middle of Hurricane Lala. If the electricity were working, I wouldn’t be in this closet looking for candles or a flashlight.”

I think we often know something on a Head-level, but we haven’t really felt it or comprehended it on a Heart-level. Also, I believe there are many times when we have not really thought through the full implications of something that has gone through our minds.

For example, it was back in the 1980s and I was an economist with The Conference Board, which is a leading economic and social think tank. I wanted to write about what I felt was going to be a significant increase in income inequality — and erosion of the middle class — in our society.

The powers that be at The Conference Board encouraged me concerning this project. But then they asked me, “If you are correct, have you thought through the implications in terms of what type of stores will profit and which will lose? How will this impact consumers and businesses?"

In all truth, I had not fully thought out the consequences. But with this question in mind, you could see very clearly that stores like Sears might go the way of all flesh, etc.

I bring all of this up because I was deeply moved by a recent post that I read by Rev. Matt Laney. He is the Co-Pastor of the Virginia-Highland Church in Atlanta, Georgia. He has written an intriguing book called The Second Arrow: Practicing Peace in a Highly Reactive World.

The Buddha pointed out that many times when we go through a difficult situation and suffer, it is because of two so-called arrows. The first arrow is the difficult incident itself. It could be the end of a love relationship or job. It could be due to a medical or financial condition. 

Buddha pointed out that, for many of us, we get more pain and suffering from the second arrow than the first arrow. The second arrow deals with the self-criticism, self-flagellation, etc. that we inflict on ourselves. We start saying things like: “How could I have been so stupid?… Why didn’t I realize that this would happen to me?… I look like such a fool to everybody else!” 

Buddha said that we were the ones that shoot these painful second arrows into our own metaphysical flesh. Rev. Matt is very insightful about the pain that we cause ourselves by the second arrow. 

In the article that I read by Rev. Matt, he pointed out things that I, of course, knew. He pointed out that the apostle Paul had never met Jesus when Jesus walked the Earth. Meanwhile, the apostles had spent several years with the Master. They heard Jesus preach.

Nevertheless, the apostle Paul trusted his personal revelations with Jesus over what the apostles told him in Jerusalem.

“Think about that. The most influential theologian in Christian history based his understanding of Jesus on his personal experience, and he did not submit it

for peer review by Jesus’s appointed successor… He intentionally avoided them. He said his spiritual experience out-ranked their human experience,” Rev. Matt noted.

At Spiritual Life Center our fall Faith in Action series revolves around a wonderful book by Kaira Jewel Lingo (We Were Made for these Times: 10 Lessons for Moving Through Change, Loss, and Disruption). Kaira is a student of the late and great Buddhist monk: Thich Nhat Hanh.

Kaira makes some powerful observations that go right along with the apostle Paul. “As I listened to my own intuition, my inner voice, I learned that I could trust it… I began to touch and understand that I already had everything I needed,” she affirmed.

Kaira calls this type of realization — which is the unity of head and heart knowledge — “coming home.” She believes that it's important to listen to our inner voice particularly in the trying times that we are currently going through. I certainly agree with this.

But let me also suggest two checks and balances to make sure that our inner voice is not just our egos speaking to us and running rampant. I would suggest that you have a trusted spiritual mentor in your life who you can share your intuitions with. I would also suggest daily experiences with what Aldous Huxley called the “perennial philosophy.” It has come to us in so many different shapes and forms and from so many different societies and cultures. 

The still, small voice was not just something for the Prophet Elijah many years ago. The still, small voice is alive and well for all those today who will take the time to listen.

Many blessings,

Rev. Rick