“Love consists of this: two solitudes that meet, protect and salute each other. ” ― Rainer Maria Rilke

In Parker J. Palmer’s book Let Your Life Speak the author recounts his bout with a deep depression. One of his dear friends was a regular visitor and was pivotal in his recovery. As Parker recounts these visits he quoted the above line of poetry saying that his friend never overstepped. His friend allowed Parker to feel safe and not infringed upon. He respected and “saluted” him allowing Parker to be safe with him. Coming to visit but keeping boundaries that were appropriate. This allowed Parker to regain his perspective and recover. 

When I first read about this encounter and read this line of poetry I was struck to the heart. I am a preacher, in the best ways and in the worst ways. I think I have things to say, which historically has meant that I have done a poor job of recognizing IF someone else ACTUALLY needed to hear the things that I was saying. ‘Reading the room” has not been my highest priority. I guess I had more interest in changing the environment, not honoring other’s boundaries. 

So at first this word (of G-d) came as a conviction about how I honor and respect other people. It struck so close to home that I immediately began to conscientiously be aware of how I was allowing others to be while we were together. It has been a very healthy shift. One that I hope sticks. 

What I was unaware of at the time is that this “word” has another more important application. It affects how I approach G-d. 

This is on a whole other level painful, AND helpful. Even though I would argue that I’ve had enough supernatural experiences to build a fairly solid framework for who G-d is an how he works I’ve been reminded lately that my assumptions are drivel compared to the profundities of who He ACTUALLY is and what the unseen world entails. 

I’m reminded of the character Eustace from CS Lewis’ The Voyage of the Dawn Treader when he was first on a ship with Narnians. Although well educated, he was prideful, annoying and unprepared for what actually existed, and was sick and shocked by it all. Too confident in what he thought he knew to be ANY help in what actually was. 

I am Eustace. I pray that that I can have the courage to align myself with the kind of humility and spiritual aim to properly “salute” the Lord, so that He might be comfortable being Himself and revealing Himself to me.