What is the
nature of a life focused on spiritual reality? What does it look like in real
life?
Some people
think that a spiritual life means lots of praying, time spent in chapel-like
space or in nature drawn away from the business of life or behaving in some
strange ways and mannerisms.
As I am reading the
stories of those whose lives are marked by connection to spiritual realities, I
am not seeing the description above. What I am seeing is people whose lives
marked by love, non-judgmentalism, unconditional love and non-violence. These
people are known for their lack of any concern for their reputation, fame,
safety, or finances.
The lives of
spiritually-alive people are marked by the characteristics noted by St. Paul:
“… the fruit of
the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness
and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” – Galatian 5:22-23
These
characteristics or qualities are not created by efforts of “trying to be good.”
While spiritual people like Mother Teresa were good people, the goodness comes
from an inner transformation brought by letting go of their ego and choosing to
live out of love, gentleness and goodness.
It is important note
that these qualities are not born out of an effort to keep some form of moral
code or legalistic attachment to a law. Interestingly, St. Paul says that these
qualities are not guided any law. Why? Because these qualities are not defined
by any legal definition. There is no legal definition of love. If there was
then you could tell your neighbor that you did demonstrate love to them by
doing what the law required. Love is greater than any law.
How is this
inner transformation developed? It is developed out of an intimacy with the
Divine lover who loves each one of us in spite of ourselves. Knowing we are
loved unconditionally, freely and openly means that we live unconditionally,
freely and openly. While there is a role for spiritual disciplines such as prayer, solitude, and worship; they are not the
Embracing our acceptance
opens us to live gently, kindly, and lovingly.
Ronald Friesen ©
2016
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