Perhaps

In my personal life I try hard to keep myself healthy and well. I have struggled with this on and off in my life due to different things, but currently I am in a very good place. While some of this is just genetics and good luck as to not be exposed to toxins or accidents, other aspects are up to me. A few years ago I looked into the 8 pillars of wellness and one of the pillars is “spiritual”. Furthermore, I do a lot of “Spiritual Reading.” These books and articles relate to prayer, lives of the saints, church history, etc. Let’s also not forget formalized Spirituality: The mass, reading the bible, the rosary, etc. But through all of this, it can still be difficult to define what Spirituality is and what it is not. While I cannot fully understand, I think I have a better idea than I used to. Spirituality is not a tangible thing, but instead a way to relate to God.

Across the ages, there are all sorts of ways people have related to God and some of these have formed different types of orders with rules that serve as guidelines as to how to go about our relationship with God. I recently have been learning more about Blessed Hanna Chrzanowska, RN. She is the first lay nurse to be beatified. This brave nurse was a Benedictine Oblate, and she wrote an examination of conscience just for nurses. As I become an RN, I intend to review this document frequently to ensure I work in a way as desired by God. Perhaps I am a Benedictine. When I was in college every Thursday afternoon the Daughters of St. Paul invited the students for tea. They told us about how they related to God through reading. While “Spirituali-Tea” ended around the time the store closed for the evening, I would sometimes return on a Saturday and purchase a book. It was at this time in my life where I developed my habit of spiritual reading. Perhaps I am a Paulinist. When I think back to my much younger days, I was surrounded by images and stories of St. Francis. My first parish and school were Franciscan and the love of nature and seeking joy in the world emanated from my environment. I have a deep respect for St. Francis who is really the first saint I ever came to know. Perhaps I am a Franciscan. A couple years ago I learned more about the Dominicans. I love how the order tries to evangelize others by preaching. Like me, they love the rosary. Catherine of Siena was the patron given to me by my parish priest when I was baptized. She was a Dominican Tertiary. Perhaps I am a Dominican. When I was a young child, Mother Teresa was always on television. My dad had a great respect for her the kindly nun and called her a “living saint”. A few years ago I read “Come Be My Light” and gained even more respect for her. Like Mother Teresa, I hope to see Jesus in the face of every patient. Perhaps I am a Missionary of Charity. Four of five years ago my priest recommended I go on a retreat. I went to a Jesuit retreat house. I loved it so much I returned several times. I have been able to relate to God through imaginative prayer and see Him in everything. Perhaps I am a Jesuit. When I was confirmed I chose St. Teresa of Avila. She and St. John of the Cross have been very inspirational to me since that time. I have tried to better contemplate the mysteries of God. Through their prose and poetry I have learned more about the way to God and perfection than I ever could have learned without their aid. I have a deep respect for the desert fathers of Mount Carmel and also for the Discalced Carmelites that brought the order back to its origins. Perhaps I am a Carmelite?

As you can see, all across your life there are different paths you may take. You may rely on one more heavily than another. One is not necessarily better than another but it may be better for a particular individual or a stage in a person’s life. They are not right or wrong – just different. Yet, all have overlapping elements and all lead to the same place.

Imagine for a moment that you take dozens of people from all around the world. You want all of them to meet in Bethlehem – let’s say at the birthplace of Jesus, the Church of the Nativity – the place where it all began. You give them a date and they all promise to be there. Perhaps one person is an American like me. Perhaps a simple plane ticket, a few plane changes and a bus on the other end are more than ample to safely reach the location in less than 24 hours. There may be flight delays or the Flight Attendant may inform you they are out of your choice of meal, but all in all, it’s pretty standard. Perhaps you are not like me. Perhaps you are North Korea. Perhaps this traveler must make illegal border crossings, hide from guards ready to kill, and plan to never return home. Perhaps you come from Africa. Here many are Christian but many are Muslim. There is peace in some places and war in others. Crossing the land may require a guide and a caravan may be in order. Perhaps jungle travel, desert travel, or even both are necessary. Perhaps you come from the Middle East. Much of this part of the world is dangerous for Christians. Even if you are not Muslim, you may wear a hijab for safety. Here you would possibly have to bribe others to get over the border, perhaps as you cross in truck of some sort. Perhaps yet another person comes all the way from India. Here you may face a lot of Muslims and Hindus. They may not like you, but you probably won’t be as unsafe as the middle east. You may get caught in the road for hours because the cows, thought to be holy, are blocking the only way out of your locale. Wherever you start your journey, you may need different modes of transportation, walking, biking, car, bus, train, plane, donkey, etc. You almost certainly will hear more than your own language. Perhaps you will experience weather unlike you have ever had in your homeland. Perhaps your travels will allow you to see the ocean for the first time, leave your country as you may have never done, or eat a new food. So many new and excited, and possibly dangerous things can happen. So many are unplanned, but the interesting journey and excellent destination are expected.

All across the world, the dozens of people called to the Holy Land would arrive. Some would be early and others would be late. Some that promised to be there may have been unable to make it. They could have had trouble crossing a border or their method of transportation could have broken down. All of the people, regardless of origin, experienced some similar elements. Everyone set out for a land that was not their own. Virtually everyone would have been exposed to other languages and ways of dress. Food and currency were likely different for different locales. Everyone would have had some vital supplies for their journey. Each had goals and expectations. Everyone had some surprises or “detours” along the way. The journeys were as unique as the individuals yet they had the same intended destination. Perhaps that is what spirituality is. Spirituality is the path you use to get closer to God. You can do similar things as others have done, but some things that others may rely heavily upon may just not work for you.

Perhaps you know a path that works for you. Use it if it helps you get closer to God. Perhaps you struggle to feel close to God. In that case, learn how others make the journey, surely your path has similar elements to some others out there. Don’t ignore paths already trodden if they seem valuable, but don’t be afraid to blaze a trail, too, if you need to pick and choose from different methods. The journey is important, but as long as you are on the correct journey to Jesus, the journey is secondary.

Perhaps………