Outward and inward-looking

WE have to realize that the proper development of our humanity, let alone, our Christianity, of both our natural self and our spiritual and supernatural self would involve that we look both outside us and inside us.

We have to look outward because that is how we trigger the motion for sensing and then knowing and loving. It’s when these basic human operations are spurred that the process of growing in our humanity and Christianity starts and is kept running.

We also have to look inward to see to it that we develop the proper systems that would be appropriate for our dignity as persons and as children of God. Let’s remember that our humanity and Christianity is always a work in progress while we are still here in this world.

We have to avoid just looking outward without looking inward because no amount of data received from outside would have the proper effect on us if we do not take care of our interior systems, so to speak. We need to look inside us to see if things are in conformity with the objective reality from outside

And neither should we just focus on looking inward with hardly looking outward since that state of affairs would sooner or later lead us to a toxic self-indulgent way of life or to trap us in our own world detached from the reality outside.

We have to know how to look both outward and inward. Just like in a car, for it to travel well and safely, it has to have good windows so the driver can see where he is going, and also to have a good dashboard to see if he has enough fuel and if the systems are working well or if there are red light flashing warnings to us.

A car just cannot have windows alone without or with inadequate dashboard, nor the dashboard alone without or with only small, narrow and not-so-clear windows. That car would end in trouble sooner or later.

We need to look outward because that is where we can see things that would feed our inner selves. Looking outward is where we can see God ultimately in our dealings with others and with everything else.

Thus, we always have to think of God and of others. We have to sharpen our curiosities to know God, others and everything else more and more. We should never say enough in this venture. This should be an abiding interest.

We also need to look inward so we can see if our capacities to know and to love are in order. Thus, we have to spend time praying, studying, developing virtues, making regular examinations of conscience, rectifying our intentions all the time knowing that we can easily be overtaken by improper motives. In fact, we have to establish a certain system that would enable us to correspond to what see outside properly.

We have to be wary of the danger, usually affecting many young people, that would mesmerize us simply of things outside while neglecting the proper development of their spiritual and supernatural life.

Same with the danger, usually affecting some old people, that would keep us restricted in our own world, and perhaps keeping an elaborate program of praying, studying and self-introspection, but already out of touch with the realities outside.