Everyday
Spirituality
“The
spiritual life is not a life before, after, or beyond our everyday
existence. No, the spiritual life can only be real when it is lived
in the midst of the pains and joys of the here and now.”
Henri
Nouwen
As it says in the book of
Ecclesiastes, and in the Byrd's song “Turn, Turn, Turn!”, to
everything there is a season. There is a season of life for all human
endeavors—whether childhood, youth, child bearing, middle age, old
age—and in each of those seasons, there are tasks to accomplish.
Within, and dispersed among them are joys and sorrows, gains and
losses, wins and disappointments. Life presents itself as a package.
What we bring to the opening and sharing of that package is of utmost
importance, for we can make it unbearable, or bearable, even joyful, for ourselves
and others.
We humans, if we had our
druthers, would prefer to have life be a one way street—and that
would be “Easy Street.” Even though we know that without
darkness, light is insignificant, and without pain, we do not
recognize joy, we want our lives to be without the dangerous curves,
without the steep climbs. But it is that variation in momentum that
pushes us to have a spiritual life in the first place—in it we find
our humanity, its limits and its strengths. When life is difficult,
we invariably reach out to each other, and to our higher power for
assistance. Even if we aren't religious in a traditional way, we lift
our eyes and ask for help. When life is joyful, we celebrate
together, we give heartfelt thanks.
The spiritual life, to be
real, must be lived in the midst of life's chaotic messes, its low
doorways, its dark caves, its light arbors, its beautiful sunsets,
its mountain top moments. It must be our go-to place for every moment
of every day. Don't save it for Sunday, like your good clothes. Wear
it everyday, until it's threadbare, and the only thing you want or
need.
In the Spirit,
Jane
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