Mansions 1, 2, and 3
“God calls to us in countless little ways all the time. [Even] Through illness and suffering and through sorrow he calls to us. To a truth glimpsed fleetingly in a state of prayer he calls to us. No matter how half hearted such insights may be. God rejoices whenever we learn what he is trying to teach us.” (Teresa)
Teresa’s metaphor of the Interior Castle “with many rooms,” points to our soul. The seven mansions allegorize our interior or spiritual journey of movement or maturity to full(er) union with the Beloved.
In general, mansions 1, 2, and 3 reflect our underlying habitual tendency to be aware of and responsive to God’s sustaining presence in our life and how we bear witness to that daily: in how we treat ourselves and how we treat other people. How we bear witness – becomes the earthly visibility of our mansion.
Following is a recent experience that illustrates (for me) these teachings.
Last week, I took a walk through my neighborhood. As I rounded a turn I saw up the road three young girls, about 10 years of age, at the end of their driveway. They were jumping up and down with joyful excitement. There was a table and one of the girls was holding up a poster. From the distance it looked like a lemonade stand. It is not a busy road and they just saw their first and likely only customer. My first response was to look for a side street that would allow me to cut away. There was none. It was either walk forward or make an about-face. As much as I enjoy engaging with young children, something inside did not want to deal with these three excited young girls who were doing something that apparently meant a great deal to them. I chose or more aptly put, resigned to continue forward.
The sign read: LEMONADE: $1
As I reluctantly approached I asked, “What are you girls selling?” Lemonade, they replied. I told them I wasn’t carrying any money. They said, “It doesn’t matter would you like some? I really didn’t but thought of the effect of refusing such a simple and generous gift from a child. I said, Sure, What kind of lemonade is it? Pink lemonade they said. The first girl grabbed the cup, the second handled the ice, and the third poured the lemonade. They had prepared their business plan.
After taking my first sip of lemonade, I asked them what school they went to and learned that they went to the same elementary school that I attended some 50+ years ago. It was to me an interesting coincidence and segue to a fun chat. I was absorbed in the joyful spirit of those three young girls. Soon the mom came out and we spoke a bit longer and then resumed my walk home – sipping on my cold pink lemonade.
Once I got home, I had to reflect upon the subtle nature of this invitation to divine grace – offered through the innocent play of children. Sadly, had there been a convenient way out, I would have taken it. Which prompted me to reflect and to ask the Spirit of Wisdom – what inside of me prompted me to seek for a convenient escape. What was God hoping to teach me? I patiently await enlightenment while grateful that (once again) I received the Beloved’s blessing and gift – in spite of my own will.
Today, as I complete this writing, a bit over a week has past and I write a followup to the above:
Last week, I almost turned my back on three children at play but did not. Because of this, my soul was absorbed into a youthful innocence and holy joy. I thank my Beloved.
This week someone turned their back on me. I was on the receiving end of another institutional disregard for truth, justice, and my soul. Just as I had experienced at the lemonade stand, my soul was absorbed into a divine truth that shed great light but instead resulted in a cry of anguish. Its truth was not sentimental and as I began to recover and (re) affirm my preference for truth over illusion. I offered my gratitude to the Beloved.
The Beloved and the chaos of this “world” both invite and call for our souls. It is without escape but in free will – I am to choose the depth of complicity.
“We can only learn to know ourselves and do what we can – namely, surrender our will and fulfill God’s will in us.” — St. Teresa of Ávila
ps. next blog – 4th mansion
