INNER AND OUTER LIFE

We all have an inner life and an outer life. We are alike in that way. But we are unlike in the relative importance we put on each; we are unlike in our awareness of each; we are probably unalike in how we define each. So our conversation may at times go astray and at times hit the mark; but conversation is possible. So let’s try.

For me God is the Lord of both the inner and outer life. I also believe that body, mind, heart, soul are a part of both. In reality there is no separation between spiritual living and physical living. Sometimes we divide them to enable analysis, but the two are one. The same is probably true of inner and outer living. The division is more a matter of analysis and conversation than reality. What goes on inside influences what happens around me. What I think and feel influences what I will and do. Yet I do think it helps to think in this duality for it pushes a balance in living.

Balance is one of those concepts that seems attractive to all. Do everything in moderation is a cliché we were taught as children and young adults. Living for a while convinces us that indeed in practice this is a hard maxim to keep. Besides we look at those who commit themselves to one thing (like athletes, musicians, artists, scientists) and think about nothing else, and we see their successes. Maybe balance is not so great! But balance in nurturing our inner life with God and our outer life with God's creation is useful, for if we spend too much time looking inward we can become self centered and fail to bring God’s love to the world, and if we spend too much time concentrating on others, the world, we can fail to nourish sufficiently our roots and become brittle and die.

How does your faith journey involve the inner and outer life?
Where is the balance?

Blessings, Caroline