Evelyn Underhill: Unionwith Reality

We know a thing only by uniting with it; by assimilating it; by an interpenetration of it and ourselves. It gives itself to us, just in so far as we give ourselves to it; and it is because our outflow towards things is usually so perfunctory and so languid, that our comprehension of things is so perfunctory and languid too…

Wisdom is the fruit of communion; ignorance the inevitable portion of those who "keep themselves to themselves," and stand apart, judging, analyzing the things which they have never truly known.

Because he has surrendered himself to it, "united" with it, the patriot knows his country, the artist knows the subject of his art, the lover his beloved, the saint his God, in a manner which is inconceivable as well as unattainable by the looker-on.”

Evelyn Underhill (1875-1941) in Practical Mysticism: A Little Book for Normal People (London: J.M. Dent & Sons, LTD, 1914) 3-4.

Today marks the second of seven posts from Practical Mysticism. Download this classic work freely here.

What if everything around you - all that you see and experience - is not real. How can I assert this? Anything that makes promises on which it cannot deliver is not real.

Previously, I have referenced a conversation I had with Dallas Willard. I want to write about it again.

Dallas said on his drive to the event where I met him in Long Beach, California, that he was bombarded by unreality and lies on the billboards that lined the freeways.

As I recall, he said that he aimed to help people grasp the kingdom of God through surrender and union with reality and truth in a world filled with unreality and lies.

Notice the implications for our generosity.

The world says that resources are scarce. You must look after yourself. Instead, you block all that out and live in light of what you know is true.

Only when we see through the lies and experience union with reality, do we play our role as a conduit of blessing. We have unswerving confidence in the reality of God’s care for us.

What about you? Will you continue to frolic in the frivolous fields of not real. Union with reality works like this: you get it in so far as you give yourself to it.

With Underhill, I acknowledge this sounds both inconceivable and unattainable. But you will figure it out as you live it out, which is why Jesus says, “Follow me.”