dailydatewithgod

We long for a sense of certainty in our lives.  In fact when we feel we have achieved it, we do not want to let it go.   It is why the question, Would you rather be right or would you rather be happy?, makes people laugh with identification when they hear it.  We all know times when we are holding on so tight to an idea because we are certain is the right answer only to find out it is not.  We are embarrassed or ashamed depending on the gravity of our insistence that we know.  What is it about knowing something?  What is it about identifying ourselves with a philosophy or perspective?  It is the certainty that we are okay, we are accepted, and we are in the know.  If we are certain we can relax.  We do not have to fight for our survival.  Our brains do not have to work hard to figure every piece of our identity from moment to moment.  It is why confirmation bias get in the way of being open to new ideas. We fight to hold on to our sense of certainty and think those who admit they do not know are less intelligent.  Yet, there is so much we do not know and even more that we do not know that we do not know.  (There is a tongue twister for you.)  Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is admit we are not certain.  We can hope, we can suppose from previous experiences but so much is changing all the time, the sense of certainty we long for is not part of the human experience.  I just like everyone else fall prey to thinking all is well when I am certain of something.  Yet I do not know when it will change.  I suppose the only thing we can be certain of is uncertainty.  My daily date with God is practice in sitting with uncertainty.  Ahead of me lies a day of profound possibilities some of which I think I am aware of and most I have no idea.  What I can do on our date is turn to the one who has known me in times of certainty and uncertainty and be present to who I am despite what may happen.  I am not even certain how God will show up in my life, I am certain that God will show up.  Well, at least I am certain of it right now.