For Those in Exile

"God created Arrakis to train the faithful." -Frank Herbert in the sci-fi epic Dune

My wife and I arrived at home last night after a 12-hour drive across four states. I was tired, muscles complaining that I’d given them little chance to move, so intent I was to arrive before dark. Man, I’m not gonna struggle sleeping tonight, I thought.

My mind had other plans. Sleep eluded me with thoughts of exile.

Some readers of HeartSmart have also read my book, in which I describe an unexpected, transformational, rather miraculous spiritual event that occurred in 2024. Since this initial metaphysical encounter, more followed, dotting my life with wonder. Never having this quality of experience in the past, it has opened my heart and mind to things I thought previously impossible. I now regard faith and science as two expressions of the same thing. I believe there is a Cosmic Consciousness permeating the entire universe that is intelligent and creative, bends toward benevolence, and whose power can be summoned. The scientific evidence for it is jaw-dropping and validates the teachings of ancient practice across the globe.

I’ve shared this with a few friends, including one of my closest, an adherent to a particularly conservative Christian faith community. I simply wanted him to celebrate my spiritual transformation with me, that’s all. Instead, on two occasions, he challenged my thoughts and warned me to avoid ‘dark spiritual forces’ that may be slyly lurking to deceive me. It’s painful to recognize his distrust, to hear what sounded like condescension.

And for the first time in decades, he didn’t bother to call on my birthday. He did send a late-night text message. No contact since.

This feels like rejection. This feels like exile from a deep, lifelong relationship.

Exile = Growth

It’s human nature to be wary, and even reject, those different from us—I think it‘s hardwired into who-we-are and difficult to extinguish. I imagine it served an evolutionary purpose, part of our brain’s attempt to keep us safe.

Human history is full of exiles. Galileo was placed in physical exile by the Catholic Church for spreading his heresy of Copernicus’ view of the solar system, in opposition to Church teaching. He lived the last years of his life under house arrest. Jesus Christ was similarly made a pariah by his fellow rabbis and Jewish leaders who were threatened by his liberal, revolutionary ideas about God.

Human history is also replete with examples of how souls in exile changed the world. Note how Galileo’s truth about our heliocentric solar system was eventually accepted, despite the Church’s vehement opposition. And Jesus’ ideas exploded across continents, despite attempted vigorous suppression, continuing to transform lives to this day.

Considerable scientific evidence indicates there is a Cosmic Consciousness permeating the entire universe that is intelligent and creative, bends toward benevolence, and whose power can be summoned.

Maybe you feel in exile from a world gone mad. From relatives who won’t accept you, despite your attempts to explain yourself. From a belief system inherited from childhood you can’t quite align with. From a work world that doesn’t care about you, despite your conscientious efforts. From people who can’t appreciate your neurodivergence, that are more judgemental than curious.

In his epic science fiction novel Dune, author Frank Herbert tells a messiah story of Paul Atreides, a teenager forced to move with his parents to a barren, dry planet called Arrakis. Life there is brutal and unforgiving, as water is in very short supply. Additional stress came to young Paul in the form of social isolation—many in his community distrusted him, as his father was the governor of the planet. He was alienated by social position, expectation, and his own self-doubt. However, he becomes acquainted with the Fremen, a mysterious people of the desert who do not easily trust outsiders. When they eventually partner with him, Paul acquires unimaginable power, capable of transforming the very weather of Arrakis.

This occurs because Paul stays true to himself while in exile.

It’s only a story I provided for context, but the thought posted at the top of this article resonates within me nowadays.

I’ve now come to believe in a God that I was once not sure was there. I’ve my own personal, scientific evidence for it.

I also believe God allows exile to train the faithful. And I don’t mean ‘faithful’ to a belief system—faithful to lovingkindness toward others.

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Suggested Steps

Exile feels uncomfortable—if you’re in a similar spot, maybe you feel some of the emotions I noted above. What to do? Here are some suggestions:

1. Give yourself grace. Accept who you are, and realize that others’ choices are not your responsibility. Only yours.

2. Be curious rather than self-judgemental. Seek the information within your emotions, rather than avoiding those uncomfortable feelings (whatever they are). Consider what your natural intuition is telling you.

3. Use calming techniques such as meditation, walks in nature, ‘tapping,’ or exercise to shut down the stress response. Any of those (and especially, any combination of them) will lower your stress response in the short-term and allow you more clarity. Consistent pursuit of those will likely calm your nervous system over time so you’re less likely to be triggered by anything at all.

4. Be patient with yourself. People in exile are in a state of growth—human history is full of such stories. Growth and clarity take time.

5. Repeat steps 1-4.

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Once on the other side of exile, you likely won’t change the world’s weather like our story hero. However, you will transform the world inside you.

Emotional strength and resilience are on the other side of your exile. Perhaps beautifully, Substack is packed with sincere seekers in the same emotional country.

Let’s all join hands. :-)

-john