SANCTIFY THE DAY MINISTRIES 

On A Common Journey

Most people are convinced that there is a presence, a power, a mysterious and beneficent force at work in the universe that inspires us, fascinates us, draws us closer and seems to be operating in our lives. The same people are struggling to find the way to bring this presence into daily awareness and experience.  Some place this presence far outside of themselves in some far off heaven, and some will not rest until they can experience this presence as dwelling not only near but within their very being.  Still others have the experience of an inner compass guiding them in the way of truth, peace, loving-kindness and expansion that they attribute to a higher mind of their own - a state of being that is inherent in the human experience. They seek the way to remain in this state of being and operate from that place in their every day lives.  This is the broad human, spiritual experience in a nutshell. All are pointing to the same center from different places on the circumference of the wheel of the spiritual life.

A longer look reveals another, still deeper journey that examines this phenomenon of presence and the inner realms of experience as well as what seems to be a natural impulse to cultivate relationship with this presence or the mystery we call God, the energy or presence of Spirit.

Take a moment to reflect upon how you hold this mystery, this underlying current of spirit stuff.  This part of life that seems to be beyond common experience, beyond ordinary thinking mind that activates a part of ourselves that is curiously “other” yet at the same time, is more familiar than anything we have ever encountered – ever. Do you know this feeling? It is divine inspiration, it is transcendence, it is awe inspiring, and it is a transformative energy. It is not something we truly have adequate words for – but we keep trying.

Many faith paths call the Mystery by a name that means breath of life. The stories of their faiths tell of spirit being breathed into the human vessel and that breath being that which animates and sustains life. This is physically true, that breath sustains life and if we think of the mystical experiences of the inner realm as sustenance for life – a deeper, fundamental expression of that brings with it revelation of meaning and purpose, we can intuit the reason behind that analogy. This is a good description of the spirit of life. 

What is it that you feel when you turn within and explore these concepts? What happens within you when you seek connection with that mystery and try to KNOW it, try to describe it?

This is the journey that each of us and all of us as a race have been on for all of time. We are seeking to know this part of ourselves, seeking to reintegrate with this familiar place that seems to make us whole again. When we are disconnected from this place, life does not seem to make sense. Many people don’t even try to “make sense” of life and therefore don’t notice that anything is missing, but not the spiritual seeker. We strive to understand what it is that keeps calling us into deeper relationship with ourselves.

This is the role of meditation. To allow ourselves space to commune with that which is constantly trying to commune with us. It is not only a tool you can use to go inward and explore the core of who you are but you’ll find that meditation is part of the natural awakening process of the spiritual being – YOU. We meditate because it is a natural process for the spiritual being – which we are. The process of meditation leads us inward to realize this truth.

Jesus the Christ said, “The Kingdom of God is within you.” The result of meditation; Self-realization and God-realization is the revelation of the true self as an expression of the One Life – Spirit.

Learn to Meditate

For I have put my truth
in your innermost mind,
and I have written it in your heart.
No longer does one need
to teach the other about God.
For all of you know Me,
from the most ignorant
to the most learned,
from the poorest
to the most powerful.

- Jeremiah 31:34

A Poem inspired by Rumi

I stumble from the tavern

drunk on the wine

of divine remembrance

still chanting

The Divine Name

The smell of bliss

on my breath

I encounter you

on the staggered road home

You faint dead away

as I lean in

telling you where I’ve been

You awaken

on the tavern floor

begging

“bartender, fill my goblet

to the brim!”

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