Recently I wrote about mapping the Spirit. I was drawn to this idea by the two large maps I have on my wall. One is the map of the United States and the other is a world map. Frequently I stop by one of the two maps and look at it. I often look at places I know so well---like my home state and at North Carolina where I went to college. I often thought I might live in that state again, but that becomes increasingly unlikely. I also like to look at places I have seldom been. Occasionally, I look at a state like Alaska, where I have not yet been. Some day…
This exercise suggested to me that we can have a map of the Spirit. This means to me that I have a picture in my mind which charts the places and times the Spirit might normally be with me. Or maybe I should say I am with the Spirit---which probably is an issue of awareness. And there are other places and times when I am less likely to be in the Spirit---or perhaps not at all. One of these predictable times I noted was when I am tired. I know when I am tired, I am not likely to feel spiritual or in the Presence of the Spirit.
I want to take some time to develop a bit more this mapping of the Spirit. It might become a tool of my spiritual development. First it makes sense to map those times and places where I know I am more likely to have a sense of the Spirit. The most likely is probably the same for most people. When I am in nature and it is special. It could be at the edge of the ocean or in the face of a mountain. Nature often places us right in the midst of majesty. It is difficult not to feel spiritual when you are in the middle of majesty!
Another predictable occasion for me to feel like in the Presence of the Spirit is when I am silent. This becomes especially true if I am also surrounded by silence. I suspect this comes from the many times in a Quaker meeting for worship where we all are sitting together in silence. It would be easy to conclude that nothing is happening. However, this is often a time of the Spirit’s movement within me and among us. It is not automatic nor is it predictable. But it happens much of the time.
It is as if the silence sets me up and conduces me into the Spirit, which no doubt was already present, but I was not aware of it. The silence becomes a medium for a spiritual encounter. It is as if the silence lets me ease away from my normal involvement in the world and in my own inner world. The silence empties in order that I might become a vessel for the Spirit. I am so grateful for this relationship with silence.
I also realize, however, that silence is much less likely to affect this encounter if I am tired. Somehow being tired is more powerful than the silence. It is not a sure bet, but the silence has to be pretty profound to outweigh the effect of being tired. To learn this leads me to some realizations.
One of the key insights it reveals is I am likely to be more spiritual if I can be rested. To take this further, one form of spiritual care for myself is to make sure I am normally rested. This means regular sleep in the first place. I can’t cheat on sleep and not simultaneously cheat on the Spirit. I can think of related areas, too
In the classical virtue language that I use, it means to give attention to the virtue of temperance. Temperance means self-control, balance and moderation. Minimize stress, eat properly, get exercise---none of these are novel. But they are true. And they probably are good indicators of people who are more likely to be aware of and attentive to the Spirit. Again, they are not guarantees, but if you neglect them, they likely will work against your spiritual interests.
The last piece of mapping the Spirit I can do is to think about the role of people in my life. If I can put myself in the company of someone who is spiritual, I am more likely to sense the Spirit and feel spiritual. Again this is not a novel discovery, but it is still an important truth. Your circle of friends and acquaintances are really good predictors of your kind of life. And this is a good example of something to give attention to and see if you are ok with it as it is.
It should be fairly easy to maintain and develop even more the group of people around you. That is especially true if you like how they affect you spiritually. And if you are not ok with the circle group of folks around you, why not make some changes. It does not have to be radical. Tweaking it should make a difference. Sometimes just going to the next state can make a big difference. You see new things, learn new things and give yourself a chance to grow and expand. The same thing might be true of your circle of family and friends.
This idea of mapping the Spirit is quite suggestive. I have only tapped the surface. I want to think more about it. No doubt, you can take it in some cool directions on your own. I think it can become a helpful way to precipitate some growth. Probably there is more to come.
This exercise suggested to me that we can have a map of the Spirit. This means to me that I have a picture in my mind which charts the places and times the Spirit might normally be with me. Or maybe I should say I am with the Spirit---which probably is an issue of awareness. And there are other places and times when I am less likely to be in the Spirit---or perhaps not at all. One of these predictable times I noted was when I am tired. I know when I am tired, I am not likely to feel spiritual or in the Presence of the Spirit.
I want to take some time to develop a bit more this mapping of the Spirit. It might become a tool of my spiritual development. First it makes sense to map those times and places where I know I am more likely to have a sense of the Spirit. The most likely is probably the same for most people. When I am in nature and it is special. It could be at the edge of the ocean or in the face of a mountain. Nature often places us right in the midst of majesty. It is difficult not to feel spiritual when you are in the middle of majesty!
Another predictable occasion for me to feel like in the Presence of the Spirit is when I am silent. This becomes especially true if I am also surrounded by silence. I suspect this comes from the many times in a Quaker meeting for worship where we all are sitting together in silence. It would be easy to conclude that nothing is happening. However, this is often a time of the Spirit’s movement within me and among us. It is not automatic nor is it predictable. But it happens much of the time.
It is as if the silence sets me up and conduces me into the Spirit, which no doubt was already present, but I was not aware of it. The silence becomes a medium for a spiritual encounter. It is as if the silence lets me ease away from my normal involvement in the world and in my own inner world. The silence empties in order that I might become a vessel for the Spirit. I am so grateful for this relationship with silence.
I also realize, however, that silence is much less likely to affect this encounter if I am tired. Somehow being tired is more powerful than the silence. It is not a sure bet, but the silence has to be pretty profound to outweigh the effect of being tired. To learn this leads me to some realizations.
One of the key insights it reveals is I am likely to be more spiritual if I can be rested. To take this further, one form of spiritual care for myself is to make sure I am normally rested. This means regular sleep in the first place. I can’t cheat on sleep and not simultaneously cheat on the Spirit. I can think of related areas, too
In the classical virtue language that I use, it means to give attention to the virtue of temperance. Temperance means self-control, balance and moderation. Minimize stress, eat properly, get exercise---none of these are novel. But they are true. And they probably are good indicators of people who are more likely to be aware of and attentive to the Spirit. Again, they are not guarantees, but if you neglect them, they likely will work against your spiritual interests.
The last piece of mapping the Spirit I can do is to think about the role of people in my life. If I can put myself in the company of someone who is spiritual, I am more likely to sense the Spirit and feel spiritual. Again this is not a novel discovery, but it is still an important truth. Your circle of friends and acquaintances are really good predictors of your kind of life. And this is a good example of something to give attention to and see if you are ok with it as it is.
It should be fairly easy to maintain and develop even more the group of people around you. That is especially true if you like how they affect you spiritually. And if you are not ok with the circle group of folks around you, why not make some changes. It does not have to be radical. Tweaking it should make a difference. Sometimes just going to the next state can make a big difference. You see new things, learn new things and give yourself a chance to grow and expand. The same thing might be true of your circle of family and friends.
This idea of mapping the Spirit is quite suggestive. I have only tapped the surface. I want to think more about it. No doubt, you can take it in some cool directions on your own. I think it can become a helpful way to precipitate some growth. Probably there is more to come.
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