The Rhythm of Redemption: Life as a Practice of Return

Seeking redemption

Inner voice calls upon me

Grace springing within

~ Thomas C. Maples

Redemption in the Integrated Self

Have you ever felt that life is a practice? As I ponder this, it runs counter to my experience, which screams that people seek perfection. But sometimes, the true value in life comes from moments of Redemption. Well, as a wise yogi once said, “life is a practice, not a perfect.” I don’t know whether it was the bear, but nevertheless, this has always stuck with me.

If life is a practice, then redemption is the rhythm of that practice. People yearn for redemption, especially when it is not felt. Yet, in finding this state, we must lean into the very nature of grace that permits the fall in the first place. Additionally, we learn from the fractured sense of self that emerges. We then reassemble those pieces into a cohesive whole.

Through the lens of the Imago Dei, the radiant sense of Self that emerges from the fractured ego created by the fall does not seek perfection. Instead, let us look at this through the lens of completion. It is in this space that we can piece together the fragments—those weaknesses and strengths, inner light and our shadows. Then, we arrange them into a portrait of the Self that is authentically one: a mosaic of a life intentionally lived, despite the fractures that inevitably come with such an undertaking. Ultimately, this process is about finding Redemption within ourselves. That is, the Self that is redeemed from that fractured state.

The Fractured Self

Seeking heights on wings untested

A fragile dream the heavens rejected

High and higher still, he chased the sun

With every effort, his soul felt as one

Yet it was on deaf ears those whispers fell

With each passing moment, his spirit was quelled

Drip, drip, drip, went the wax of his wings

Hallowed ideals, sometimes lead to shattered dreams

To fly is life; yet to fall brings grace

Foretold by a whiper in a father’s loving embrace.

~ Thomas C. Maples

As Genesis foretold, we all fall. It’s amazing in the rubric of those ancient tales of yesteryear, how many stories allude to this most basic of psychological acts. Perhaps, as Genesis forewarns, it is the plight of the human condition. This is because we have been shaped by its consequences even before the written word supplanted our ancestors’ oral storytelling ways. In fact, the search for redemption remains central throughout these narratives, both old and new. Yet, let us look upon the method by which redemption to Self emerges from a fractured ego state.

Ego Separation

Genesis Chapter 3 warns us of the fall. The idea of the fall is collective and universal—it transcends cultures and major religious systems. Indeed, it lives both in modern faith and is archived in the annals of literary genius. Interestingly, the recurring theme of the fall is the pursuit of redemption in the journey of a life lived with higher intent. This similarity likens this psychological act of consciousness to its spiritual base.

When Eve partook of the fruit and gave it to her husband, they shared from a place of communal innocence. Yet, in this act, they gained knowledge of good and evil. It was from this space that pain arose, death invaded, and the polarization between the light and shadow spaces of the psyche became embodied as a consequence of the expulsion from the Garden.

It is in this ungardened space that the “I” of the ego arose—a necessary adaptation to the thorns and thistles we must tend to survive in a world seemingly separate from the Divine. Yet, it is in this very act of “tilling” that the ego is offered its second choice: Redemption from a redeeming force. Furthermore, in the space of being redeemed, we are called to bring the inner and outer worlds into focus. This includes listening for the whispers of the Divine that call the ego back to the Self and discerning the path that is present. This is the space of the Imago Dei—the true protagonist of the storyline we are meant to create.

Self Integration: The Mosaic of Return

This is an imaginal exercise (please do not try this at home; your device will break):

Imagine that you took out your smartphone or tablet, removed its protective covering, and dropped it onto a concrete floor. What would happen? Would it shatter?

Imagine taking your smartphone or tablet, removing its protective casing, and dropping it onto a cold cement floor. What happens? It shatters. Now, imagine trying to initiate a video call on that broken screen. The picture would be fragmented—perhaps even indiscernible. Even worse, the jagged shards might cut the very fingers reaching for the connection they seek. This is the nature of the ego when it separates from its Divine Source. Specifically, it becomes a fractured lens that distorts our view of ourselves, others, and even the divine.

Now, imagine a “Sacred Flame”—a source of heat that, instead of frying the delicate circuits within, mends the shattered glass. Over time, it fuses the fragments into a surface that is stronger and more resilient than the original. As a result, the image on the screen begins to rectify itself. This is the work of Redemption in action. As we integrate the mosaic of the small “self” into the greater Image of Self (the Imago Dei), the picture becomes clear. Then, the communication pattern among the self, others, and the divine can shape the beauty of the story yet to come.

Seeking Redemption?

1. Tilling the Soil of Soul: (The Moral Inventory)

Take five minutes at the end of the day. Acknowledge what went right and what went wrong. Don’t judge the “shards” of the day; simply observe them. This is the act of seeing your “nakedness” without the shame associated with those censoring fig leaves adopted to fit into civil society. Remember, this is your time with God.

Savoring the Father’s Embrace (The Heartfelt Offering)

Give these experiences to God. By giving thanks for even the difficult experiences, you recognize that even our “fall” is an opportunity for grace. By letting go, and letting God, you invite the “Sacred Flame” to mend the broken shards of glass that encompass the ego response.

Integrating the Imago of Self (Let Go, and Let God)

Ask yourself: How can I choose differently? This isn’t about seeking a “perfect” tomorrow; it’s about a “practiced” tomorrow. By asking for mercy, you strengthen the communication line with the Divine. In doing so, you ensure that your self-image becomes clearer with each passing day.

By Inner Grace, Redemption Springs Within

It is in the simple gift of asking that we form a true relationship with the Divine. When we open this door of communication, we allow a sacred presence to embrace our sincere wish for wholeness. By refusing to hide our fractures and instead offering them up, we find that the “I” of our ego is no longer a solitary, broken thing. Rather, it is being integrated into the eternal “We” of the Creator. In this space of wholeness, we are no longer tethered by the fear of falling. We are empowered by the grace that found us.

The Final Benediction

“May God be with you on your journey—to envision, to chart a course, and to believe in your ability to advance confidently in the direction of your dreams. In the space of wholeness these dreams offer when realized, we discover that we are no longer tethered by the fear of falling; we are empowered by the grace that found us.”