“Clarity is not guaranteed until you move onward, into the fog, deeper into mystery.”
I don’t think full clarity is ever guaranteed. However, this made me think of a commentary I read a long time ago (no idea where or who) about Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Basically, it said to consider the “lamp” more like a flashlight then a spotlight. A flashlight only shows you a few steps ahead. It doesn’t illuminate the whole path, which tends to be what we want it to do. ;) We have to take the next step to be given more light to see by. I think this aligns well with needing to take a step deeper into the fog in order to see more clearly.
I don't think clarity is guaranteed, either in the midst of physical for or in practical life circumstances. Perspectives contradict, understandings clash, and any moment but the present is obscured by the fog of time.
“Clarity is not guaranteed until you move onward, into the fog, deeper into mystery.”
Depends on what we're talking about, I think! This has been the object of some reflection--I think it's a very human thing to want to unravel mystery. A great deal of science is devoted to this, and no small part of faith as well. But all human knowledge must terminate in something unknowable. I think whether we consider this a defect or a feature leads us to consider it a "problem" or a "mystery".
For most mundane--in the literal sense, 'earthly'--I think moving forward does often provide clarity. It's a twist on analysis paralysis--we have to make a decision to see whether it's the wrong one. And then we should strive to learn from it without regret! You could substitute "Experience" for "Clarity" in your quote and it would probably be true in more cases.
It’s definitely true when embarking on a new creative project. When I write a novel I have no idea where it will go. You have to keep trusting and moving in little by little.
I love the poem, and I love mists and mysteries. We don’t get a lot of mist in central CA, but I know the essence of mist from the beach. Thank you for this devotion!
“Clarity is not guaranteed until you move onward, into the fog, deeper into mystery.”
I don’t think full clarity is ever guaranteed. However, this made me think of a commentary I read a long time ago (no idea where or who) about Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Basically, it said to consider the “lamp” more like a flashlight then a spotlight. A flashlight only shows you a few steps ahead. It doesn’t illuminate the whole path, which tends to be what we want it to do. ;) We have to take the next step to be given more light to see by. I think this aligns well with needing to take a step deeper into the fog in order to see more clearly.
Beautiful poem! ❤️
I don't think clarity is guaranteed, either in the midst of physical for or in practical life circumstances. Perspectives contradict, understandings clash, and any moment but the present is obscured by the fog of time.
“Clarity is not guaranteed until you move onward, into the fog, deeper into mystery.”
Depends on what we're talking about, I think! This has been the object of some reflection--I think it's a very human thing to want to unravel mystery. A great deal of science is devoted to this, and no small part of faith as well. But all human knowledge must terminate in something unknowable. I think whether we consider this a defect or a feature leads us to consider it a "problem" or a "mystery".
For most mundane--in the literal sense, 'earthly'--I think moving forward does often provide clarity. It's a twist on analysis paralysis--we have to make a decision to see whether it's the wrong one. And then we should strive to learn from it without regret! You could substitute "Experience" for "Clarity" in your quote and it would probably be true in more cases.
It’s definitely true when embarking on a new creative project. When I write a novel I have no idea where it will go. You have to keep trusting and moving in little by little.
I do agree honestly. Mystery is only a mystery until you discover what the fog really is! Great question.
Is clarity ever guaranteed? Even after moving through the fog, there may not be a clear sense of what the mist was made of or why it manifested there.
I love the poem, and I love mists and mysteries. We don’t get a lot of mist in central CA, but I know the essence of mist from the beach. Thank you for this devotion!
Chelsearotunno.substack.com
Lovely!
“Mist-ery.” I love that. Even though autocorrect doesn’t.