"Those who seek should not stop seeking until they find. When they find, they will be disturbed. When they are disturbed, they will marvel, and will reign over all", says Jesus in the gospel of Thomas. I believe, these words deserve close attention, because they reveal to us something important about dynamics of the process of seeking the Truth.

One of the primary phases of inner transformation, although it is not often recognized, is disturbance. As we genuinely search for God's Truth, we will be disturbed. There should be no questions about it. Why? Simply because our discoveries often contradict to what we've been used to think and believe.

When we encounter new ideas, we are often amazed at their power and beauty. They appeal to something deep inside of us, and we feel their attractiveness - but, at the same time, they seem to bring turmoil into our minds. Sometimes, they are not in agreement with what we've been taught by the people we trusted so much. Sometimes, they disagree with our previous insights and life experiences. There comes a sense of loss, in many cases a painful one.

However, let us not resent such inner disturbances. They are signs which indicate that new understanding is waiting to be born within us. Disturbances must come, but they won't stay forever. After a period of seeming darkness, we will see a new dawn.

"For every gain there is a loss", wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson. Childish and ignorant beliefs, vain illusions and misconceptions should be lost in a process of our ongoing development. Let us not regret as they go away, because better things are coming in to take their place. Nature abhors vacuum.

"All discovery begins with doubt", said Brad Jensen. There is no need to be afraid of doubts, because they were meant by God to serve as necessary steps to new levels of understanding. The only possible danger for people is to stuck in doubts for too long, refusing to accept God's answers as they come. But it would require an attitude which is strange to sincere seekers of the Truth.

If we are not willing to deal with doubts, chances are, we won't discover anything significant and worthwhile. If we are afraid to be disturbed, we will shut ourselves from the things that come to enlarge our understanding and enrich our life experience.

Let go of fear. Fearless people sail across oceans, while fearful ones don't dare to cross tiny rivers. Fearless people build skyscrapers and fly up in the air, while fearful ones are not willing to climb upstairs some feet above the ground.

It takes the same courage to explore wast ocean of the Spiritual Realm, or the Kingdom of God, just as it takes courage to explore oceans of water and air.

Fear steals from us joy and thrill of discovery. It quenches the fire of God, the divine urge that drives all people forward and upward. Yes, it is true that in the process of going on our way we at times lose our balance. We may take a wrong turn, we may even stumble and fall. But does it mean that we should stop? Certainly, not.

God did not give us the spirit of fear or apathy. The Spirit which works in us and through us is the Spirit of active faith and divine restlessness. Peace of God is a sense of fulfillment of our mission at a given time. Those who are striving for peace apart from obedience to the divine impulse within themselves, may never find it.

As we search for the Truth, we realize that our understanding can never be final. There will be always new levels of meaning even in truths that we know well. There will be new heights to climb. There will be new depths to dive. And every one of them will share with us its abundant blessings, for they are ours the moment we decided to start the journey.