It’s been said that there are only 2 things that a person can know with any measure of certainty. The first is that "I" exist. One can't be "absolutely" certain of existence. Yet I have a pretty good idea that if I didn't exist, then I wouldn't be sitting here in front of this computer typing this message. Of course, I may not be. But for the sake of this post, let's accept that “I” am in fact here within existence.

The other thing every person can know is that one day “I” will die. Again, there's always that possibility that “I” will be the first person in history to live forever. Sorry, not counting on it.

That means that every other thought that we’ve ever come to believe has at least some potential for being completely full of shit. Yes, offensive it is. But I’m tossing my beliefs into this pool as much as yours. Thoughts and beliefs may hold some truth. But…absolute certainty?

I exist. And I will die. That’s the sum total of what we can count on. Reassuring, isn’t it? After all the crap they spoon fed us in high school, all the psycho-babble from college, and every sermon flailed upon us from the righteous, can it be that only these 2 truths are real?

The majority of what we hold to be true originates in the mind as thought. These thoughts and beliefs elicit reactions in the body, experienced as emotions. Once the feelings have planted their roots, these thoughts are believed to be true. But when you stop and look, when you genuinely perceive, do any of these thoughts hold any actual reality? Do they continue to exist when you stop thinking about them?

Oh heck, none of this really matters anyway. There are some things that we have to “know”. I know how to pay my bills. I know how to calculate my mortgage. I know how to replace a blown out light bulb. My place of employment expects me to “know” a hell of a lot of things. Throw something else at me every day. I’m expected to keep up. We don’t live in a world of un-knowledge, do we?

Well, I’ll let you all in on a big secret. Contrary to popular belief, including viewpoints supported by my own pompous behavior, I am really a complete idiot!

Yes, I know I rarely act like it. I’m so full of myself and my superior “liberal” point of view. You might actually get the impression that I think I know something. But I don’t! Isn’t that hilarious!

I bitch and I moan. I stand on my soapbox, whatever one of those are? I probably see some merit in the opinions I shout. But am I absolutely certain? Hell no! Most of the time I’m just instigating debate; trying to get us all to pop our brains open once and awhile.

Let’s stop all this nonsense for a minute. If we let everything get quiet, we find that words roll off into the distance like a car speeding by on the highway. Words fall away and the thoughts and beliefs they carry follow right behind. Existence is silent.

And the first thing I do is admit, “I don’t know”. I don’t know which political party is correct. I don’t know which pundit to crown. I don’t know which religion holds dominion over the others. I don’t know whose God is the biggest.

I don’t know why my partner loves me. I don’t know why so many are alone. I don’t know why children are starving. I don’t know why soldiers must die.

Notice how the conversation in altered when we enter it from a position of doubt. How would the future change if a Christian approached a Muslim from this place of uncertainty? Not that either side gives up the possibility of their faiths salvation. Both sides hold their spirits open to the neutrality of “I don’t know”.

I don’t know if this post holds any truth. I don’t know if the premise will fail. “Certain knowledge” leads us into the battlefield. I don’t know what will save us from the grave.

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"An Open Invitation" is a multi-part journey from the known into the unknown.