“Let it be what it is,” Kate said as I looked at the chimney in the dining room of the 1902 home that I was renovating. Kate often provided me with a different perspective resulting in amazing transformations in my home. I had been pondering what to do with the chimney. I wanted to cover it up or to hide it; one piece of sheetrock and it would never be seen again.

Now Kate was inviting me to see it differently. The chimney was a part of the house. It was once a necessary part of the structure that served a purpose. While it no longer served a functional purpose, it remained a part of my home. During the renovation, my thoughts focused on how I could cover it up, change it, transform it or fix it. Now I was faced with another view.

Oftentimes, we are invited to see things differently yet in our attempts to fix things, we miss the invitation. In ministry, we are called to meet people where they are — not to fix them or their situation. We are invited to see people and situations in a different way and often “to let it be what it is” with all the imperfections.

We are all on a path of spiritual transformation. We don’t need to cover up or hide ourselves or our situation. We can “be what we are” even though we may appear to be an eyesore or no longer serve a purpose. Pema Chodron, a Buddhist nun, says: The purpose of the spiritual path is to unmask, not to cover up.

My acupuncturist recently posed the question to me: Wouldn’t we be happier if we just accepted our exceptionality? Pema Chodron tells us we already have everything we need. We are one blink of an eye away from being fully awake. Buddhist practice tells us to start where we are and to accept ourselves.

After all, if we are truly made in the image and likeness of God or a higher power, that is exceptional. If we love ourselves and others for who and what we are, that is exceptional. Being who we are is exceptional — even if we don’t always like it or agree with it, let it be what it is.

I didn’t fix the chimney. I didn’t cover it up. I didn’t hide it. I “let it be what it is” with a fresh coat of paint and a fresh view of the chimney.

Teresa Schulz is a spiritual director, lay theologian, retreat facilitator, lecturer and volunteer chaplain. She is the founder of Tools for Intentional Living (TILT) and co-founder of mainespiritus. Her email address is taschulz56@gmail.com