Know Thyself

Don’t be afraid of not knowing something. As I grow older, I have come to realize something. That is this; I don’t know everything. Neither have I thought about everything. Logical conclusion: I don’t necessarily have an answer to certain questions. I’ve learned another thing: Honesty is always best. Being open and transparent about who and what you are, your faults and failures as well as your talents and skills. Don’t hide anything, and don’t say anything you’re not comfortable with other people hearing. It’s just good policy.

In order to be honest, you have to know yourself. In order to know yourself, you have to spend time alone in silence. I heard someone say recently that being a monk/hermit is running away from society and is the ‘easy way’. I submit to you, as someone who most likely has been completely isolated from all human contact for longer than you have ever been, that it is not an easy thing to live with yourself. If you ever try being alone for any prolonged period of time (at least two days), you will realize that it is a very hard thing to face yourself.

I realized today, while staring into a fire I made outside in the firepit, that I am my greatest enemy. Being completely honest with myself about myself is a hard thing to do. To sit down and think about all that I am, all the things I have done, where I am now, my deficiencies and shortcomings, my lingering sins and black spots. I don’t know myself very truly or well yet. I’m getting there.

But know this: everything starts with you. If you can be honest with yourself about yourself, you have taken the first step towards wisdom. The harder part is accepting who you are. If you can accept who you are (not a distorted picture of who you are but who you truly are), you can accept anyone. If you know yourself truly and are able to accept who and what you are truly, you will be able to accept all men. The two go hand in hand: you will know when you know yourself when you can love and accept all men, and when you love and accept all men you will know that you know yourself. (And don’t make the foolish assertion that love can be unaffectionate).

Know yourself. Never be afraid or ashamed to say ‘Well. I never thought about that before.’ Never be afraid to ask ‘What does that word mean?’ Never be ashamed of what you don’t know. Know that you are beautiful in your own right in your being, for you are made in the image of God. Know that you’re also probably to some degree messed up. Know yourself, and you can begin to know God. For when you know yourself truly, you come to see the beauty in this mess we call reality. And when you are in tune with reality, you will come slowly to know God. Therefore, know thyself.