As the Spirit Moves Me

The older I get (and the busier) the more I find myself discovering my spiritual moments in ordinary not sacred places. A simple statement that needs backup so first let me explain two relatively common yet complex words that I will be repeating. The words ordinary and spiritual. My definition may differ from others and that may make a difference to the reader, something that might of course change the context of the article and that’s why we begin there - at the beginning, the standard explanation.

First the word ordinary: (1) usual or customary, (2) unremarkable, (3) common, (4) in mathematics with two variables: relating to a differential equation that has only two variables. And then there is the word sacred: (1) relating to the soul or spirit, usually in contrast to material things. (2) relating to religious or sacred things rather than worldly things. (3) connected by an affinity of the mind, spirit, or temperament. spiritual mother of the young artist. Or (4) refined: showing great refinement and concern with the higher things in life.

Good solid definitions from the internet that give us some grounding for this work. I would go one step farther and say that when one experiences the spiritual one gets a feeling of contentment and peace. Some say joy, a buzz, an assurance that things will be all right. These are the moments I am looking to experience and to make a part of the lives we all lead. When this moment, this ’pop’, this ’buzz’ as we are walking down the street, flying in airplanes, looking in the faces of the people we interact with then we begin to make the multiple parts of our lives intertwined with the spiritual.

How do we mix the two? My ordinary life is unusual, as may be the readers. I am a traveling woman. The life of a traveling woman’s ordinary days include airplanes, hotels, meeting new people and all those other wonderful things that remove one from the traditional role and in general have in the past created an easy entry into a spiritual community. Yet now I find I need it more than before so I began looking for ’spirit in all the new places’’ and to find my soul work in common places and creating my own spirituality out of what was readily available. Thereby making the ordinary sacred.

So let’s be creative as we multi-taskers can do so beautifully. How do we begin this looking for ‘spirit in all the new places’. There will be a few hints along the way but here’s the beginning one. Take a minute at the beginning of each day - we are going to start there - to give thanks. Take an accounting of something you have to be thankful for. Even on the worst of days there is something and the harder you have to look for it the more joyous it is when it is found. Take that something and say thank you. Thank you for being there, thank you to whoever you feel is responsible for it. Put that something in your spiritual pocket and carry it with you all day long. Your step will be lighter.

Next month: Sole space!