In part two of this series on Contemplative Spirituality, we’ll read another excerpt seeking to define “spirituality” from the introductory essay by staff of the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation. Then, I will reflect briefly and offer a few more guiding questions for your own reflection.
Contemplative Spirituality: A Shalem Senior Staff Monograph
Written by Carole Crumley, Bill Dietrich, Ann Kline, and Gerald May
March 2004
“The spiritual life is like a deep ocean current, often unseen, but flowing through all our experience, moving us to seek fulfillment and connectedness, impelling us towards truth, goodness and beauty. As William Wordsworth said, it is something “deeply interfused” that “rolls through all things (Lines: Written a few Miles above Tintern Abbey, 1798).”
Spirituality is the living heart of all the great world religions, and each faith tradition in its own way proclaims that the essence of spirituality is love. The Christian expression is in the two great commandments: to love God with one’s whole self and to love one’s neighbor as oneself. Thus spirituality is the heart of our desire for fulfillment of those commandments. It is our participation in the love that created us “so that we might seek God” (Acts 17:27).
In a sense, then, spirituality can be considered synonymous with love – not necessarily the feeling of love, nor the good works that spring from love, but the energy of love itself, before it is given any attributes of commentary. As we grope towards finding fulfillment, the fundamental motivating force of spirituality expresses itself in many ways, some simple and creative, and some distorted and destructive.”
Love as the essence of the all the great world religions and spiritual traditions is something I find inspiring. As a Christ-follower, I think it is helpful to realize we are not alone in our efforts but are partners in a great work of love being carried out by many people in many different ways. It is the animating energy common to us all. We respond to it differently, sing different songs, use different languages, create different theologies and worldviews, but the root remains the same, love as an energy moving us toward truth, goodness, and beauty.
This theology calls to me to look at others and our culture more deeply. Instead of the left vs. right dynamic most of us are locked into, I feel led to wonder where love is active in people’s lives and how this may be causing them to act the way they do. Though my Christian spirituality includes special concern for people who are the most vulnerable in our society, asking who or what people love and are trying to protect changes the conversation by inviting a shared vulnerability instead of simply building more walls and shouting louder. While not an easy answer, this shift toward vulnerability and deep listening opens possibilities that did not exist prior.
What about you?
Where have you seen love active in your life or the lives of others? How did it cause you or them to act?
Have you seen or experienced love in different religions or faith traditions?
What similarities and/or differences did you notice?
‘Till next time,
Pastor Karsten
