Between What They See and What We Know

Sometimes, the pictures we post or the moments we polish don't tell the whole story. Behind every smiling family photo or well-worded affirmation is often a swirl of chaos, contradiction, and grace. That contrast between what people think and what's real is something we all live with-but rarely name.

This week, as I was reflecting on a cartoon we created-a "picture-perfect" version of our family

alongside the hilariously real version (complete with kids flailing, dogs barking, and me holding a crooked sign)-it struck me how much of life happens in that in-between.

That space is called ambiguity.

It's the tension between how we want to be seen and what's actually unfolding. It's when you believe in divine order but still feel disoriented. It's when you're living your deepest "yes" and still running late, tired, overwhelmed, and unsure.

And here's the good news:

Ambiguity isn't a spiritual failure. It's a doorway to spiritual maturity.

Ernest Holmes wrote:

"True thought deals with Reality, and this Reality is ever-present. We must learn to see it." (The Science of Mind, p. 186)

But seeing it means we have to look through ambiguity-not past it.

When we're caught up in what others think, or in trying to present a version of ourselves that feels tidy and acceptable, we miss the power of Presence. The Truth isn't in the flawless photo or the ideal version of yourself. The Truth is in the laughter between tantrums, the breath you take before responding, the whispered prayer when things feel uncertain.

There is something sacred in admitting:

"I don't have it all together... but I'm together with Spirit."

"I'm doing my best... and that is holy."

"This is messy... and it's real."

That's not weakness. That's depth.

It takes humility and spiritual courage to allow the outer image to reflect the deeper inner truth. And more often than not, the truth looks like vulnerability, openness, contradiction-and Love anyway.

So this week, I invite you to join me in this inquiry:

• What "picture" of yourself are you trying to keep intact?

• Where is ambiguity asking you to pause and trust deeper?

• Can you allow your real life-not your polished one-to be the space where Spirit shows up?

Let's meet each other there-in the space between the picture and the Presence. The world doesn't need more perfect people. It needs more real ones rooted in Love.

With my whole, slightly chaotic heart,

Rev. Tracey Harrick

Spiritual Director, CSL Prescott