In his song “Lovers in a Dangerous Time”
Canadian folk legend Bruce Cockburn sings
we live in a dangerous time because
democracy is rapidly crumbling across the planet
and because climate change leaves no time
to stop it/figure it out/get our bearings
however, mystics East and West agree
there is more to life than “getting somewhere”
in politics/business/war/religion –
beyond ambition there is penetration of being/
truth/meaning/purpose
and the solution to all problems
is not simply to be “born again” –
religious maturity is deeper than any psychological state
or infantile religious experience
because maturity can deal with
darkness/failure/uncertainty and still be joyful
whereas infantile religion always needs more and more light
and only light, no darkness or shadow
self-confrontation of our shadow is painful
but necessary for spiritual growth –
taking a log out of an eye is a painful operation
but then we can see clearly –
contemplation can be painful too –
showing us our deepest convictions
are wrong or shallow, replacing our comfortable truths
with unsettling ones that empty out our ego
faith and love are deeper/higher than science
or even mystical experience – knowledge and experience
no matter how deep or great are worthless
unless they deepen our faith and love
hope deepens us too –
without the hope of eternal life
the riddles of life/death/grief/guilt remain unresolved –
according to Catholic theologians Karl Rahner and Ron Rolheiser
“there is no finished symphony in this life” –
and so there is a tendency to fall into despair
unless the Life Divine is real.