Ian - so many of your sermons “opened the gate” for me! And how lovely it was to go out into the coming week with the gate open, even though, as you said, it might become obscured. Thank you for the reminder to cherish those moments of true peace and perspective.
I appreciate and very much resonate with this reflection. Life is a succession of knowing and then not knowing... back and forth as you say between the realm of "the field" as some call it and the realm of our egoic what to do- how to be- where to go- agenda. And I do believe there is an inverse relationship between the amount of ease we experience moving through the veil and the depth of sensing our innermost "being." The stronger that sensation is the thinner the veil seems to be. Thank you for this. It's much needed spiritual nourishment.
The portal in my front yard fence turns out not to be a gate at all, but a weed that took root last fall. It remained green despite the brutalities of winter, and this spring exploded into what I found out later was a catnip plant. It grew so big that it actually covers half the egress from my front door to my detached garage. The reason I see it as a portal rather than an obstruction is that I can pause in front of it and enjoy a few moments in the present tense. The plant has become its own busy ecosystem now that it is in full flower. So far I have spotted eight varieties of bees, numerous grasshoppers, colorful moths, common flies, and nameless microscopic insects more interested in collecting pollen and leafy nutrition than anything I might be up to. Spotted some house finch fledglings the other day sitting on lower branches who had learned to hop off and collect something of interest their movement had shaken to the ground.
Not sure this “portal” suggests anything being right with the world beyond my modest front yard, but, in pausing, I am seeing something quite right in the present moment.
Ian, thank you for this teaching, a beautiful metaphor for our life journey. I'm grateful that I, too, have had moments of passing through the gate to a place of acceptance and Oneness: in times of prayer or meditation and in more "everyday" moments of laughter, sunsets, stillness... I love Rumi's words about entering into this field of high awareness: "Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and right doing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there. When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about. Ideas, language, even the phrase ‘each other’ doesn’t make any sense."
Like Meg stated, many of your sermons "opened the gate" for me also. I'm so glad I still have the chance to read and hear your reflections on your walk of faith. They remind me to just plug into that relationship with God and just wait until He shows me the desires of my heart, walking through that open gate. It is amazing!!
I have no idea if you'll see this comment because I'm commenting a month after the post, but I hope you receive some notification. I had missed this post of The Open Gate and just read it this morning.
Your image of the open field of tranquility and knowing outside the back yard I'm constantly tending resonates deeply with me. I have experienced what you're describing, as well, although I hadn't thought about my experience with backyard/open field imagery. Very apt, though.
I tend to agree with Lynn about the element of my need for control keeping me from finding the gate, but I've been steadily working on diminishing that need in me for some time. I find that, the more I let go, the easier it is for me to access that Peace. I've always thought of my place as more of a bird's eye view, from the sky, putting into perspective all of the noise and distractions of my daily life. I agree, too, that knowing that place is there, and I think of it as the place of my soul's origin, allows me to navigate the daily noise in more peace. I continue to practice, and to pray for that state of mind to be more consistent in me. So, yep! Your experience resonates deeply with me. Makes perfect sense. I'm so glad to hear you all are well. I'm enjoying your Substack posts!
Dear Ian, My dear friend Viv Showalter sent me your 3 posts and I am thrilled to hear your son does well and learn about your new endeavors. I met you in person last year while visiting Scott and Viv, but have been "streaming" you for years. My dear husband and Scott go back to college at Emory and med school. We have been long time friends. We lived in Denver for 15 years. I live in CA now. I lost the love of my life and partner of 50 years almost 2 years ago. I've been lost. We have followed Richard Rohr and CAC Center for Action and Contemplation for many years. I am currently a Living School student which is wonderful. Ghost Ranch is mentioned often with men's retreats. I like the Open Gate name and relate to your idea of finding God in nature as we are/were backpackers and mountain climbers plus Spritual Seekers. Got to Yosemite recently for first time in many years. Showalters first took us there when they lived in Oakland a long time ago. I'm also interested in potential Spiritual Guide idea as Living School encourages this. I've also signed up for 9/9. So Congrats on your newsletter and I look forward to reading it. Peace and Blessings Mickie Nelson
I’m already signed up on this app currently for Nadia’s writings . I don’t know why a bunch of other writer I don’t know were sent to me but I deleted the Substack app.
Ian, Your comment "that in the field (through the open gate) you knew "everything is fine Everything" reminded me of the saying of Julian of Norwich . . ."All shall be well and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well." Paula Boltz
Ian - Oh, how I am going to miss your sermons! You really should have been a philosopher. I had a trip through the gate that I'll never forget, and I would give anything to experience it again. It was Easter morning at a church in San Diego, about 25 years ago, and we were singing a hymn. Suddenly, I experienced a sense of the peaceful presence of God like I have never felt before or since. I remember thinking that I could leave the world right then, and know that everything was all right with my life. How I wish I could experience that sense of peace again, because it was wonderful to feel no worry or fear about anything.
Ian, Thanks for sharing your open gate. This imagery resonates with me. I think the scary thing is going through the gate. It's better not to know, but organically become aware. I want to ponder this concept to find my own field. Blessings, Josh
Ian, knowing there is a way to follow your search and hear from you is the best part of this site. Thanks for your continued spiritual leadership. Pat Pascoe
Ian, I drove from Oklahoma to the foothills and the front range this last week to visit family and friends. I. Got to open some conversations that provided opportunities to listen to some family secrets that had been buried and carried for a lifetime.
Truly a gate was opened to enter the freeing field.
Ian - so many of your sermons “opened the gate” for me! And how lovely it was to go out into the coming week with the gate open, even though, as you said, it might become obscured. Thank you for the reminder to cherish those moments of true peace and perspective.
Ian. The gate opens to a life that we do not try to manipulate, control or worry about. We let it happen.
Ian,
I appreciate and very much resonate with this reflection. Life is a succession of knowing and then not knowing... back and forth as you say between the realm of "the field" as some call it and the realm of our egoic what to do- how to be- where to go- agenda. And I do believe there is an inverse relationship between the amount of ease we experience moving through the veil and the depth of sensing our innermost "being." The stronger that sensation is the thinner the veil seems to be. Thank you for this. It's much needed spiritual nourishment.
Hi Ian—
The portal in my front yard fence turns out not to be a gate at all, but a weed that took root last fall. It remained green despite the brutalities of winter, and this spring exploded into what I found out later was a catnip plant. It grew so big that it actually covers half the egress from my front door to my detached garage. The reason I see it as a portal rather than an obstruction is that I can pause in front of it and enjoy a few moments in the present tense. The plant has become its own busy ecosystem now that it is in full flower. So far I have spotted eight varieties of bees, numerous grasshoppers, colorful moths, common flies, and nameless microscopic insects more interested in collecting pollen and leafy nutrition than anything I might be up to. Spotted some house finch fledglings the other day sitting on lower branches who had learned to hop off and collect something of interest their movement had shaken to the ground.
Not sure this “portal” suggests anything being right with the world beyond my modest front yard, but, in pausing, I am seeing something quite right in the present moment.
Doug
Ian, thank you for this teaching, a beautiful metaphor for our life journey. I'm grateful that I, too, have had moments of passing through the gate to a place of acceptance and Oneness: in times of prayer or meditation and in more "everyday" moments of laughter, sunsets, stillness... I love Rumi's words about entering into this field of high awareness: "Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and right doing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there. When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about. Ideas, language, even the phrase ‘each other’ doesn’t make any sense."
Like Meg stated, many of your sermons "opened the gate" for me also. I'm so glad I still have the chance to read and hear your reflections on your walk of faith. They remind me to just plug into that relationship with God and just wait until He shows me the desires of my heart, walking through that open gate. It is amazing!!
Hi, Ian -
I have no idea if you'll see this comment because I'm commenting a month after the post, but I hope you receive some notification. I had missed this post of The Open Gate and just read it this morning.
Your image of the open field of tranquility and knowing outside the back yard I'm constantly tending resonates deeply with me. I have experienced what you're describing, as well, although I hadn't thought about my experience with backyard/open field imagery. Very apt, though.
I tend to agree with Lynn about the element of my need for control keeping me from finding the gate, but I've been steadily working on diminishing that need in me for some time. I find that, the more I let go, the easier it is for me to access that Peace. I've always thought of my place as more of a bird's eye view, from the sky, putting into perspective all of the noise and distractions of my daily life. I agree, too, that knowing that place is there, and I think of it as the place of my soul's origin, allows me to navigate the daily noise in more peace. I continue to practice, and to pray for that state of mind to be more consistent in me. So, yep! Your experience resonates deeply with me. Makes perfect sense. I'm so glad to hear you all are well. I'm enjoying your Substack posts!
Heidi!
Dear Ian, My dear friend Viv Showalter sent me your 3 posts and I am thrilled to hear your son does well and learn about your new endeavors. I met you in person last year while visiting Scott and Viv, but have been "streaming" you for years. My dear husband and Scott go back to college at Emory and med school. We have been long time friends. We lived in Denver for 15 years. I live in CA now. I lost the love of my life and partner of 50 years almost 2 years ago. I've been lost. We have followed Richard Rohr and CAC Center for Action and Contemplation for many years. I am currently a Living School student which is wonderful. Ghost Ranch is mentioned often with men's retreats. I like the Open Gate name and relate to your idea of finding God in nature as we are/were backpackers and mountain climbers plus Spritual Seekers. Got to Yosemite recently for first time in many years. Showalters first took us there when they lived in Oakland a long time ago. I'm also interested in potential Spiritual Guide idea as Living School encourages this. I've also signed up for 9/9. So Congrats on your newsletter and I look forward to reading it. Peace and Blessings Mickie Nelson
Ian ,
I hope I am signed up .
I would like to receive your writings.
I had a bit of trouble with the Substack app.
I’m already signed up on this app currently for Nadia’s writings . I don’t know why a bunch of other writer I don’t know were sent to me but I deleted the Substack app.
Thanks,
Ellen McDonough
Ian, Your comment "that in the field (through the open gate) you knew "everything is fine Everything" reminded me of the saying of Julian of Norwich . . ."All shall be well and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well." Paula Boltz
When I connect with another person in an authentic, present way…
For me, trust is outside the gate, and control (or seeking control) is inside. I love that you’re doing this Ian!!!
Ian - Oh, how I am going to miss your sermons! You really should have been a philosopher. I had a trip through the gate that I'll never forget, and I would give anything to experience it again. It was Easter morning at a church in San Diego, about 25 years ago, and we were singing a hymn. Suddenly, I experienced a sense of the peaceful presence of God like I have never felt before or since. I remember thinking that I could leave the world right then, and know that everything was all right with my life. How I wish I could experience that sense of peace again, because it was wonderful to feel no worry or fear about anything.
Ian, Thanks for sharing your open gate. This imagery resonates with me. I think the scary thing is going through the gate. It's better not to know, but organically become aware. I want to ponder this concept to find my own field. Blessings, Josh
Ian, knowing there is a way to follow your search and hear from you is the best part of this site. Thanks for your continued spiritual leadership. Pat Pascoe
Ian, I drove from Oklahoma to the foothills and the front range this last week to visit family and friends. I. Got to open some conversations that provided opportunities to listen to some family secrets that had been buried and carried for a lifetime.
Truly a gate was opened to enter the freeing field.