Making Friends with Obscurity
Why I believe Obscurity should become a modern Christian practice
Contemplation: Finding the place in you where you are here and now being created by God. Thomas Merton.
This weeks contemplation: Obscurity
Obscurity is a word that has been rolling around my soul for the last five years.
It started when I moved to New Zealand. Obscurity sat down with me for a cup of tea in the months where I found myself unemployed. That time was sweet and bitter: bitter because of the ever increasing need to find a job to pay the rent, but also incredibly, unbelievably sweet because I spent those days in the Scriptures, sitting at the feet of Jesus. It was there Obscurity made itself known to me and a phrase took root in my heart. I wrote it down and tacked it to my wall—
Into obscurity—yet in plain sight.
Into the unknown—yet fully known.
I felt hidden but also protected — sheltered under the mighty Hand of God the Father and I knew that I was living in the waves of sacred days.
Obscurity has been by my side ever since, guiding my feet along paths I do not yet know.
Historical Obscurity
Before Monasticism found its place in church history, early forms of men and women sequestering themselves away with the Lord were seen and known as Hermits, Recluses or Anchorites. These men and women would willingly lock themselves into a small room or cell which was attached to the local church (sometimes even filling in the doorway with bricks and mortar!) to live out their days in solitude, poverty and prayer.
I’ve been reading a book by a woman who was one of these recluses, “Revelations of Divine Love” by Julian of Norwich.
It is a stunning book, written sometime in the 14th and 15th centuries and is the earliest surviving book known to have been written by a woman! In 1373, while perilously sick and believing herself to be on her deathbed, Julian received two visions of the Passion of Christ over two nights, and these she reflected upon and wrote down over the remaining years of her life.
Below is an excerpt of her contemplation on the Goodness of God.
“For as the body is clad in the cloth, and the flesh in the skin, and the bones in the flesh, and the heart in the whole, so are we, soul and body, clad in the Goodness of God, and enclosed.”
“Yea, and more homely: for all these may waste and wear away, but the Goodness of God is ever whole… For truly our Lover desireth that our soul cleave to Him with all its might, and that we be evermore cleaving to His Goodness.”
“For our soul is so specially loved of Him… there is no creature that is made that may [fully] know how much and how sweetly and how tenderly our Maker loveth us.”
“And therefore we may with grace and His help stand in spiritual beholding, with everlasting marvel of this high, overpassing, inestimable Love that Almighty God hath to us of His Goodness.”
— Julian of Norwich
I just so admire her complete, self-sacrificing devotion to God. Fame didn’t drive her, obscurity did.
Just like our beautiful and lowly Jesus who, “though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant…” (Philippians 2:5-7).
Modern Obscurity
I have been thinking about Julian of Norwich a lot recently and her absolute dedication to Christ in taking this extreme vow. While I personally do not feel the call to lock myself away in a room in my local church for the rest of my life (thank you Jesus), I do feel the call to live my life in and from Obscurity.
Over this last year or so I have been increasingly encouraged by the Lord to reduce and limit my activity on social media and have been really challenged by the concept of social modesty (I want to write more about this soon, so stay tuned). The questions came— Is my *almost compulsive* desire to share what I’m doing on social media an act of pride? Is my *almost compulsive* habit of scrolling on my phone a type of entertainment gluttony? Is my *almost compulsive* practice of comparing myself with other women/creatives/believers online covetousness?
Instead, I have been drawn to spend my time with my phone in my bag, sitting on the train looking out the window instead of down. I have taken up simple hobbies like knitting, reading, cooking and making it a priority to spend quality time with friends and family rather than just watch Netflix. Spending time away from the constant noise of a thousand peoples voices, the refreshing simplicity of silence is healing me. When I’m not so bombarded with clash of opinions and beliefs, I feel much more able to hear the still small voice of God in my life.
At the same time, I have found in myself an ever deepening desire to spend more time in the Word and in petitionary and thanksgiving prayer. Over the last year and a half, my mornings have become my favourite part of the day, rising while it is still dark with Bible and notebooks open, a coffee in hand, the kookaburras and cat my companions in devotion.
Obscurity is quickly becoming a spiritual practice for me, one which is oriented by the desire to live my life for the Lord’s eyes only. Where I can strip off the ways of the world, and instead, start to practice the ways and teaching of Jesus.
So what do I mean by Obscurity?
A quick google defines obscurity as the state of being unknown, inconspicuous, or unimportant.
To me, Obscurity means to live your life for the eyes of the One “who sees in secret” (Matthew 6 verses 4, 6, and 18), to practice your life for God’s approval and not man’s.
It means to intentionally place pockets of sacred time in your day that are dedicated only to the Father.
Obscurity means to orient your life in such a way where humility and social modesty are pursued daily values.
Obscurity means to live a life dedicated to God, hidden in the hand of the one who loves you.
Jesus lived His life in obscurity for thirty years, and He lived from obscurity for the following three.
I wrote a little about the idea of Jesus living from obscurity earlier this year, and I feel that idea has only grown since then. Below is a quote from my previous post, “Obscurity, Prayer & Right Timing.”
How did Jesus prepare for His ministry? How did Jesus prepare His heart to follow the Father with absolute, unwavering confidence? How did Jesus prepare for His death on the cross?
In obscurity and with much prayer.
…Obscurity and prayer prepares our hearts, hands and souls to carry and bear that which Jesus calls us to carry…
I am consciously realigning my heart toward the lowly Jesus…considering the beauty and obscurity in which He walked, the quiet yet steadfast reliance on the Father His daily bread.
I believe there is a divine call to willingly enter into Obscurity.
May I encourage you to seek out and pursue your own kind of obscurity. To take a step back from the things that vie for your attention, and instead, seek the Lord in solitude and devotion.
I am still learning the full meaning and practice of this lowly invitation. I believe it will outwork itself in small, incremental stages. With each obedient step forward another two stepping-stones are laid before me.
It is my ever increasing conviction that this type of time with God, learning the truth in His word and finding ways each day to put them into practice is the best way to walk the days ahead in wisdom and holiness.
— In a society that traffics in pride, pursue humility, for you shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5).
— In a world that is increasingly divided, be a peacemaker, for you shall be called a Son of God (Matthew 5:9).
— Among a people who celebrate sin, be known for your righteousness, for your thirst will be satisfied (Matthew 5:6).
— And don’t worry if people don’t understand you, or if they mock your faith, for yours is the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 5:10).
Into obscurity—yet in plain sight.
Into winter’s depths—yet flowers bloom.
Into the unknown—yet fully known.
Among the desert flowers —hope grows.
With much love — sending grace and peace to you in Christ Jesus
x Zara
Interesting point of view you have created, appreciate your contribution. God bless you.
Thought provoking and moving. Thank you for the insights