You formed me inside my mother’s womb. Body and soul I am marvelously made. You know me inside and out. Ps.139.
Some might say it is presumptuous, even arrogant, to think that one article can define this path. I would agree. There are numerous volumes available from an excellent company of writers. What I am offering, are some helpful indicators. When you’re unsure which way to go indicators do help.
Spiritual awakening opens our mind to another dimension of living. In nature a seed, or a bulb is slowly awakened into an entirely different state of being. Our divine spirit can pass through a parallel process into an awareness of who we truly are, opening our mind to another level of possibilities and quality of life. The scriptures, prophets, all spiritual leaders, Paul, and Jesus say we all need this awakening of spirit to become what, deep in our heart and better moments, we long to be, were made to be and are capable of.
The realization of our Need is indicator number one. The trouble with many people listening to Jesus was they were not aware of their need. They were in the dark and shrank from the light. Jesus described it as self-inflicted blindness preventing them from seeing the new life he wanted them to experience. In today’s hi-tech world preoccupation with a dazzling array of digital attractions leads many into a similar state of self-sufficiency and complacency. We have an insatiable hunger which only God can satisfy.
Be confident there is an Answer. To meet our needs there is water for thirst, food for hunger, air for breath. And food for the soul. Trevor Hudson tells of an alcoholic who, looking at the mess his family were in, said, “It doesn’t have to be this way”. That admission lodged with Trevor at a deep spiritual level as he thought of the destructive patterns of living, bad habits, political conflicts, broken relationships and confusion prevalent today. There is another kind of life of a much higher quality available in Jesus.
Look more closely at the Ordinary. We can experience God in the ordinary; a smile, an object, a scene, a greeting, a book, a gift may be his agents of awakening. If it creates a warm response in our heart, it could be God nudging us spiritually awake. When watching people in their daily activities, or looking at nature, Jesus was always awake to the possibility and potential of the divine hidden in the ordinary. Dallas Willard writes ‘I believe that Jesus’ ordinariness tells us something profound about God. God does not need to be flashy to prove anything to us’. God is not separate from all else or caught by surprise.
Be open to Connection. Worship, fellowship, group work, telephone, email, books, sharing a meal are all a means of connecting, giving and receiving, learning and listening, discovering and sharing. The other person, by their character, experience, knowledge, and helpfulness can be a stimulus to our waking up to a new style of living creating changes and improvements in ourselves.
Maintain an Open Mind. Non-dual thinking is a means of spiritual wakefulness. Dualistic thinking– the “I’m right, you’re wrong attitude” is born in the ego to keep control, avoid fear, doubt and uncertainty, but it closes the mind. Inter-religious discourse is awakening us to a better understanding and a new relationship of interconnectedness and interdependence. “Who is God?” The divine is not bound by words, doctrines, dogmas. We must keep a sense of wonder. We cannot penetrate the mystery of his being. However, did we forget that Jesus rejected old ideas, stepped over boundaries, customs, traditions, gender discrimination, taboos and racial divisions to introduce a new era of the inclusiveness of God?
Repeat often “GOD LOVES ME, without question, condition, or limitation. Then allow the Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu and Jew to say the same – without contradiction. God is relational. I am repeating the question Dietrich Bonhoeffer asked years ago, “Who is Christ for us today?” De Chardin sees Christ as the center of the cosmos, from the least particle of matter to the entire cosmos – the light of evolution. For Beatrice Bruteau Christ brings a new insight into our consciousness. She saw the need for a wider lens, a more inclusive concept for our relations with each other and the cosmos. All around us we see God’s stunning creation and our vocabulary is as limited as our comprehension. The extraordinary truth is – we are made in God’s image. There is a seam of the divine running through us all; our body and soul are his creation and both require careful attention.
God is beyond any insights or definitions we have, yet we are caught up in his creative activity, though our efforts fall short he does not despair of us. Spiritual awakening introduces us to an intimate friendship with God- a breathtaking awesome privilege! Quoting Willard again, ‘I am convinced that all of us meet God regularly and in quite ordinary ways. The question is, do we notice this when it happens?’ If we are spiritually awake, we will.