Dana Owens

We can stand beside water and remain thirsty. Likewise, we can know a great deal about spiritual truth and still remain spiritually thirsty. The decision to drink must be voluntary.

We are rarely transformed in one dramatic moment. More often, the Lord gives us enough for today’s journey. Thus, the question for us should not be just, “Where am I going?” but also “How is the Lord being present with me today by giving what I need for today to sustain me on this journey?”

Perhaps we should not ask simply, what does the dog mean?” Instead, we should ask: “What kind of affection is the dog expressing here?” That question may lead us closer to the deeper principle of correspondence.

The “foreigner” represents something within us that remains foreign to the spiritual life. It could be an affection, desire, thought, or intention that is essentially not compatible with our relationship with the Lord.

When we are in spiritual struggle, the Divine is still present, working toward our liberation by means of a deeper conjunction with the Lord. The remarkable thing is that the Israelites themselves could not yet perceive any of this. However, their inability to hear did not mean that God could not hear them either.