It is commonplace for people to think of churches,
synagogues and mosques when you talk about religion. Everyone would say that those are not the
only places where religion can happen, yet most of us associate religion with those
kinds of venues. I think that is much
less so when we talk about spirituality.
I am sure there is a wide range of definitions of spirituality, but most
folks I know think it is different than religion. While many of us think spirituality may be related
to religion, few people I know think the two are the same thing.
I am not sure I associate religion with churches, but I do
think there often is an institutional aspect to religion that most of us do not
associate with spirituality. And since I
spend most of my time teaching “spirituality,” whatever that is, I am more
focused on that. So when I am with
students, I am often talking about spirituality in ways that are not very
connected to the church. Most students
with whom I find myself do think they are spiritual in some way, although a
high percentage of college-age students do not regularly go to a church.
For example, I am used to talking about spirituality in ways
that encompass nature. For centuries
nature has been one of the spots that people feel spiritual. It is often true that the ocean and mountains
are favorite spots where people feel spiritual.
The rhythmic sound and feel of the ocean waves tend to have a positive
spiritual effect on folks. The beauty
and grandeur of mountains communicate the same effect to people’s souls. One hears words like awe, majestic and
inspiring when these spiritual spots are part of people’s spiritual
stories.
I am intrigued by the ideas of places and spaces. It is a fascinating study to think about the
places and spaces where spiritual experience happens. Ocean shores and mountains are just two of
the most predictable places. But it does
not have to be place-specific. Sometimes
it is more like a space that leads a person into a spiritual experience. It might be a space where one finds oneself
with another special person. Time may
have a space in routine when the spiritual comes to the fore and creates an
experience.
Recently, I encountered the spiritual at an odd time in an
odd place. I did not go looking for it
and only slowly realized what was happening spiritually. It came right in the middle of routine for me
in one of the most unobvious places I could have imagined. I climbed the second floor of our Recreation
Center, headed down the hallway to the locker room in order to change clothes
so I could go for a run. I have done
this countless times. I never do it
expecting anything spiritual to happen.
I had no forewarning.
As I walked into the locker room, a colleague and general
friend had just finished working out. We
chitchatted. And then the chitchat began
to take on a depth that would have been totally unexpected with this guy
anywhere on campus. As far as I know, he
is not really interested in spirituality.
He is a very curious, open, eager-to-learn kind of guy and I appreciate
that about him.
Certainly the locker room is not the place I expect to get
spiritual! Spirituality in an odd place
is all I could think about as we talked with some increasing depth. Fairly quickly it seemed, the conversation
begin to focus on the idea of the “self.”
I know I have written about that---probably many times. He became very curious how I deal with the
idea of the “self.” He is the kind of
guy who knows something about everything---very smart, hopelessly curious and
up for a conversation about anything.
As I understand it, our idea of the “self” is created. All of us have a “self-image.” That self-image likely changes over time with
experience and growth. I do not think
“my self” is the same as it was at age sixteen!
The conversation became deeper when I said that I do believe there is a
“true self’ that each one of us is---as opposed to a true self that we have. That true self is the self God can know and
with whom God can relate.
I am fine saying that true self is my “soul.” It is the person I am at my deepest. It is my “heart.” It is the “heart and soul” people talk about,
perhaps without knowing fully all they are trying to convey by this. This true self is the place of spiritual
identity and spiritual connection. It is
the place of authentic love and of amazing compassion. The true self explains Mother Teresa, Gandhi,
Jesus, the Buddha and all the spiritual giants.
We all have that capacity to discover and develop our true
self. This became the locker room
conversation. It became a spiritual
encounter between two guys who had simply come to work out and be friendly in
greeting each other. It reminded me of
the wonder of spiritual serendipity. I
am deeply grateful for the Spirit appearing in odd places. I could have gone to a church only to find it
locked. Instead I go to the locker room
and find the Spirit. Who would have
thought to look for our true self in a locker room with a guy sitting
half-naked! Spirituality in odd places,
to be sure.
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