John Cassian, one of the ancient Desert Fathers, describes three renunciations he says are required on the spiritual journey. The first is our former way of life as we move closer to our heart’s deep desires. The second is the inner practice of asceticism and letting go of our mindless thoughts. The third renunciation is to let go of our images of God and to recognize that any image or pronouncement we can ever make about God is much too small to contain the divine. Even the word “God” is problematic because it carries with it so many interpretations and limits based on our cultural understandings.

The words of Christine Valters Paintner

Reader:  Let mystery have its place in us.

ALL: Let mystery have its place in us.

Reader:  Let mystery have its place in you; do not be always turning up your whole soil with the plowshare of
self-examination, but leave a little fallow corner in your heart ready for any seed the winds may bring,
and reserve a nook of shadow for the passing bird; keep a place in your heart for the unexpected guests,
an altar for an unknown God.

ALL: Let mystery have its place in us.