Spiritual Road Tests

August 2, 2023

Many types of information may be gathered from a road test such as how the vehicle’s electrical system, engine and tires perform.

The spiritual life often gives us road tests. We may not schedule them, but they happen and they tell us how we are doing. For example, suppose a circumstance requires extreme patience on our part. We may think we have enough patience, but we don’t know for sure until a situation tests us: a spiritual road test. After it is over we know for certain if we had enough patience.

Many conscious individuals assume that their challenges can be handled consciously. However, unless we have reached very high levels of consciousness, we all have blind spots and deficiencies associated with our stage of consciousness and the strength of our ego. For instance, in the example of patience, we may have patience with most people but not with some difficult family members (See Ken Wilbur: Stages of Consciousness). An old saying speaks to this phenomenon: “If you think you’re conscious, try spending a week with your parents.”

Inquiry: What will your next spiritual road test likely be?

Dear God,

Whatever my test results may be, I ask for self-compassion. Amen.

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