Alan Watts wrote “The Wisdom of Insecurity” in 1951. I recently read it on recommendation from a friend in the context of a discussion we had about taking risks. I intend to read it over and over and especially if I find myself “losing my nerve” as happens on occasion – when the circumstances of life threaten to overwhelm or worse – when I find myself saying that I must be cautious or careful…
Watts writes of the distinction between
belief – to wish something is true, to “know” what is happening and so giving us security
faith – to trust, which requires being open and giving up the security of belief – acting in unsure knowledge
I read from Oswald Chambers’ “My Utmost for His Highest” nearly every morning and have for the last 11 years. A short description of who he was reads: ”Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) was a Scottish minister and teacher whose teachings on the life of faith and abandonment to God have endured to this day.” Interesting choice of words – most would say that Oswald Chambers was a man of belief and conviction – a religious man. I don’t know that that would be untrue – I do think it interesting that he is described foremost as teaching “on the life of faith”. One of my favorite (out of many!!) of his writings is:
“You have to learn to go out of convictions, out of creeds, out of experiences, until so far as your faith is concerned, there is nothing between yourself and God.”
It has been suggested that I make life changes easily – that the decision and subsequent action of “following a dream” comes easily. Most people are not privy to the internals of my (or anyone else’s) decision making process. In my case, do I look at every situation backward and forward – analyzing the pros/cons and possible consequences ??? Uh, not exactly… Neither do I blindly step out with no thought to consequence (to myself or others) and no plan for failure. Somewhere in the middle I think – leaning a bit towards stepping out – in faith. I say, “in faith” because my point is we can NOT be sure of, nor control the future.
My absolute belief - MY truth – is that there is very little that we can control – there is no real security. There is no amount of money, no pension, no state of health, no state of relationship that is “secure” – all can be lost in an instant in circumstances uncontrollable by me. It is a very freeing thing to know that. I have been on the brink of losing it all and the act of putting one foot in front of the other – stepping forward in faith – that is my “security”.
Color me foolhardy, naive, a dreamer and hopefully a doer - may I always “go out of convictions, out of creeds, out of experiences”! - and may I be closer to God in my work, my play and my relationships – all of my life and living.
