The Spiritual Journey begins at birth
We are all born with a belief in God. It may not have a name or a face. We may not even see it as a God. But it is there. It is the sense that comes over us as we stare into the starlit sky or watch the last fiery rays of an evening sunset. It is the morning shiver as we wake on a beautiful day and smell richness in the air that we know and love from somewhere we can’t quite recall. It is the mystery behind the beginnings of time and beyond the limits of space. It is a sense of otherness that brings alive something deep in our hearts.
Some people will tell you that there is no God. They will claim that God is a crutch for people who can’t face reality, a fairy tale for people who need myths in their lives. They will argue for rational explanations of the origin of the universe and scientific explanations of the perfect movements of nature. They will point to evil and injustice in the world and cite examples of religion being used to start wars or to hurt people of different beliefs.
You cannot argue with these people, nor should you. These are the people the Chinese philosopher Chuang Tzu spoke about when he said, “A frog in a well cannot be talked to about the sea.”
If you have any sense of the mystery of the universe around you, you are hearing the murmur of the sea. Your task is to leave the well, to step out into the sun, and to set out for the sea. Leaving the arguing to those who wish to discuss the size and shape of the walls that close them in.
If you hear the call of the distant sea, do not be turned away by the naivetes and contradictions of the beliefs around you. There are many paths, and the sea looks different from each of them. Your task is not to judge the paths of others, but to find a path that will lead you ever closer to the murmurings that you hear in your heart.
Begin by accepting where you are.
We all have special gifts of character. Some of us are blessed with compassion; others, laughter; others, a power of self-discipline. Some of us are filled with the beauty of people, others with the beauty of nature. Some of us have a keen sense of the injustices in life; others are drawn to celebrate the goodness around us.
These are all starting points, because they all are places of belief. You must find the gift that you have-the source of your belief-and discover a way to cultivate that gift.
If you come upon a tradition that seems to give voice to the music of your spirit, do not be afraid to follow. Religious traditions exist because they give voice to fundamental spiritual truths that many people share.
They offer a path to the sea that has been taken before, and their footsteps are well marked for those who choose to follow.
If you find a tradition that engages your spirit, give yourself to it with your whole heart. Read its texts. Participate in its rituals. Give yourself over to its ways of spiritual formation.
If, however, you find that your faith in God is something silent and personal, to be found in the solitude of your own heart, do not be afraid to embark on that path. Seek out the wisdom of the mystics and the visionaries who met their God face to face, and cultivate the habits of the heart that will allow you to grow closer to the experience of God every day.
Spiritual growth is honed and perfected only through practice. Like an instrument, it must be played. Like a path it must be walked. Whether through prayer or meditation or worship or good works, you must move yourself in the direction of spiritual betterment. Spiritual understanding never becomes deep unless you subject yourself to the spiritual discipline of practicing your belief.
There will be times when you feel like you have lost your way. You will be too tired to go on, or other things will seem more important. Maybe you will start to feel that your belief was just a momentary enthusiasm. Maybe you will feel a growing meanness of spirit. Maybe you just won’t care.
Don’t be too hard on yourself when this happens. Your whole life is a spiritual journey, and you will find yourself in arid lands as well as in lands rich in possibility. Just be certain to continue to push forward. A few more steps and you will once again hear the call of the great waters.
Anonymous
