My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Psalm 72 • Psalm 119:73-96
Judges 3:12-30 • Acts 1:1-14 • Matt. 27:45-54

Thomas Keating wrote in Open Mind, Open Heart: “Actually, no emotion is really distressing; it is only the false self (FS) that interprets it as distressing”; and: “There is nothing wrong with reality. The problem is with us, who cannot relate to it properly because of the obstacles in us.” When my FS takes over, I am at the mercy of its endless wailing and gnashing of teeth as one more time I am caught in the hell of victimhood. When in this state it seems that God (and even my sanity!) have forsaken me.

Earlier today someone did something that was perceived by my FS as a slight. Here is a decision point—a definite fork in the psychic road—do I let this thought go like one does in Centering Prayer and return to my balanced center of positive self-regard? OR do I start a commentary about the perceived transgression? There is an all-or-nothing aspect to this decision. Once the first step is taken down the commentary road the FS is off and running…this person always does something to hurt my feelings…I don't deserve to be treated this way…doesn't she know who I am? …blah, blah, blah.

When we find ourselves in the clutches of the FS, the wounded self, it feels that we have been forsaken. There is a strong seductive component to being drawn into the commentary. The FS tells us if we just replay it one more time, we can FIGURE IT OUT so we won't have to revisit an old wound. What is the remedy?

I derive comfort and clarity from the two Keating quotes above: Do I want my FS interpreting this incident to me? OR might I thank the FS for sharing and then let the thought go and get on with living and loving through the rest of the day? It can also be a good exercise to feel gratitude toward this person who helped expose my FS so that healing can occur. Thanks be to God!

Written by Nicholas Cole

...who is grateful to be alive with Carolyn in Colorado. Cowabunga!