The spiritual journey

A priest friend of mine just gave me a lovely little book called The Wisdom of Solitude: A Zen Retreat in the Woods by Jane Dobisz. Here's a little observation Dobisz makes that is definitely worth remembering:

When you are thirsty, no explanation in the world will quench your thirst like a glass of water. Similarly, when you embark on a spiritual journey, you have to taste it for yourself or it will never become yours. If it isn't yours, then it's never there when you really need it.

Sometimes people will demand more and more explanations and complain that they are unsatisfied when they don't "get it". Explanations don't help if what the person is resisting is the willingness to let go of being satisfied! Next time you don't "get" something, let that be okay and, instead, rededicate yourself to the practice of letting go of judgments in meditation.