I hope you had fun with the Finger Exercise in Lesson 6. It is one of the simple, yet profound, ways Bernard found to show us very different ideas about ourselves than we are used to.
Bernard encourages us to focus more attention on our inwardness. It can be too easy to get caught up in the busyness of life. Yet, it is very important to take time to become aware of what is going on inside us and to cultivate the best within us. What we would say if the captain of a ship was too busy to make sure it was going in the right direction? Or, if we got on a bus and the driver took it to the wrong destination because he did not bother to notice the signs telling him where to go?
If we do not take time for this inwardness then we are likely going in the wrong direction. What is the point of going in the wrong direction more quickly? What is the point of hurrying to the wrong place? Listening to our inwardness means noticing the signs within us which show the way. Our inwardness directs us to what is best and right for us. It may take time to cultivate our awareness of our inwardness and it may take a while to learn to trust it. However, the more we listen to it, and act on its promptings, the more we move into living a happy and fulfilled life. In that way we let go of doubt and fear. We let go of worry. We become more aware of God’s love for us and can accept the goodness which this brings. Our prayers become as much an expression of the goodness we have already as they are about wanting more goodness.
Blessings,