Trust instinct to the end, even though you can give no reason. Ralph Waldo Emerson
This is the fourth article in The Five Big Questions of Life series. Previous articles in this series are always available at webbweekly.com/arts-and-lifestyles/faith-conversations/.
Instinct is a powerful and unseen force. For the creatures of Earth, its force is irresistible. Merriam-Webster defines instinct as a natural or inherent aptitude, impulse, or capacity; a largely inheritable and unalterable tendency of an organism to make a complex and specific response to environmental stimuli without involving reason; behavior that is mediated by reactions below the conscious level. That definition needs a lot of unpacking. Thankfully, we can look to nature for illustration.
We live along the Atlantic flyway. The earliest signs of spring and fall are the flocks of geese flying in their familiar V formation. They are traveling between their northern breeding grounds and southern feeding grounds. Their migration makes sense to us as they seek favorable climates. Frankly, many of us follow a similar annual migration pattern between Pennsylvania and the south. I-95 is our Atlantic flyway.
Some creatures, however, are driven by the irresistible force of instinct to make migrations that are far more extraordinary – journeys that defy reason. Monarch butterflies are drawn to Mexico; ruby-throated hummingbirds to Costa Rica; and Arctic terns to the Antarctic. These extraordinary migrations clearly demonstrate the powerful and undeniable pull of natural instinct. It is a powerful force – and a wonder to behold.
We are also drawn by instinct, but it is not natural; it is spiritual. From the time we are very young, spiritual instinct makes us profoundly aware of something existing beyond the limits of our natural world. We sense that we are not alone in the universe, that there is someone out there – a being who is common to us, connected to us, concerned with us, and desiring to commune with us. We are drawn to that being by the unseen and irresistible force of spiritual instinct.
Just as migration activity reveals the power of instinct in nature, spiritual instinct can be clearly witnessed in the historical activity of mankind. Ancient people expressed it through the building of pyramids, some to prepare for the afterlife, others to offer sacrifices. Why? What caused the ancients to even consider the possibility of an afterlife or the need to appease deities? What needs were the Greeks fulfilling by creating their vast mythologies? What inspired medieval man to build grand cathedrals? What yearning in pioneer man caused him to risk his life in a new world where he could worship God in freedom? What draws us to prove we are not alone in the universe? Even with today’s vast technological and scientific advancements, we are still yearning for the spiritual connection. The Abrahamic religions alone involve nearly four billion people worldwide. Why?
It is hard to deny this universal yearning, this spiritual instinct, in man. Can it be denied? Yes. Can it be attributed to some expanded capacity of the human brain? Yes. Can it be relegated to mythology, wishful thinking, or cultural influence? Yes.
Be careful. Denying the obvious requires a lot of effort. Man has the capacity to deny anything he does not want to accept. Some men believe the earth is flat. Others believe the Holocaust never happened. Clearly, even in the face of overwhelming evidence, denial is always an option. To defend his denial of the obvious, a man will devise a systematic narrative to defend his claim. So, yes, the existence of the spiritual instinct can be denied.
What cannot be denied or explained away is the relentless and universal draw of the spiritual instinct and its profound influence on man. It has existed in every place on earth and in every century of recorded history. Denying it is as difficult as denying the natural instincts. It may be invisible, and its drawing force unexplainable – it may even defy reason – but the effect of the spiritual instinct on man is clearly consistent and observable. Denying it requires strenuous effort. Hard work is always the toll paid for rejecting the obvious. This is why truth is the source of freedom.
This is important. We often feel uncomfortable talking about spiritual instinct because it exists beyond the realm of our natural world. Like most guys, I don’t want to be seen as a simpleton who believes in Peter Pan and Santa Claus. For that reason, a man needs a strong and reasonable argument to give him the courage to respond to the drawing of his spiritual instinct.
I have invested nearly forty years of my life in full-time vocational Christian ministry. Hearing that, you probably think my faith is bulletproof. Maybe it should be, but I must confess, it is not. Like you, I have witnessed some awful stuff. At times, my faith has been shaken to the core, and the temptation to deny it has been strong. In those moments of despair and doubt, what kept pulling me back was the relentless draw of the spiritual instinct. I cannot deny the existence of its invisible force. Doing so would require the bondage of personal dishonesty. I have no interest in that kind of life. The spiritual instinct calls me to freedom – and it is a call I must answer.
You are reading this article. Have you asked yourself why? What is it that is drawing you into a quest to answer the five big questions of life? Who am I? Why am I here? What am I missing? What is truth? What must I do? My friend, it is the undeniable force of the spiritual instinct.
On the morning of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the angels asked the women, “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” It wasn’t a fair question. The women weren’t looking for the living – they were looking for the dead among the dead. When we deny the presence and power of the spiritual instinct, that’s what we’re doing – we’re looking for the dead among the dead. The words spoken by the angels are for us, too! Instead of looking for the dead, the spiritual instinct calls us to look for the living among the dead. That instinct is tugging on you right now. In a place deeper than what your mind can explore, it is there, pulling you toward the living. Are you ready to follow that instinct?
