Global Spiritual Renaissance
Continued from Blog Soul Awakening 2
Is there a global spiritual renaissance arising? More and more I met people or hear of people who search for a spiritual anchor. There is this growing sense of a un-fathomed dimension. The desire is to latch on and harness the elusive so it won’t drift away before examination and securing the answer to: “How can this fit into my life?”
It seems to me such people are rarely affiliated with religious organizations; if they were it is unlikely they would admit to being spiritually malnourished. Quite often the exposure has been cursory or none at all to church, synagogue or mosque – religious venues not being a natural default in their seeking. Excluding unfamiliarity with places of worship many people have a lacked mark of trust in religiosity having rightfully observed its many failings.
I find surprising the recent comment of a friend when he said, “It’s uncommon to find God in church.” This was a telling observation from a former religious but I understood there are myriad motivations for attending a religious institution. People’s reasons vary and often have nothing to do with cultivating a spiritual relationship.
Spiritual Renaissance – Dross to Gold
Yet, my experience in church and within a church community keeps yielding expressions of God. My discovery is that sometimes you must be willing to sift through the dross to find the gold. It may be uncommon but God can be found in institutionalized holy places but the road at times is bumpy and circuitous.
But God is everywhere – in and of everything; being part of a religious institution is not a pre-requisite for relationship. Often, though, it can help. It is difficult cultivating a deeper and lasting spiritual bond when we are alone.
To grow in a relationship with God or that unnamed higher being or presence – whatever we may name it – often means a call to engage more fully with others. And one of the constants about God is engagement and changing things up. The best way is when humankind rubs up against each other. The tension this breeds is what adds lustre to the relationship, like rock for a long time under pressure transforms to diamond. It is the only way to change what we have to something better. Alone it becomes near impossible.
To be continued in the next post.
What is your observation about a global spiritual renaissance? Can God be found in religious institutions? What have you discovered?
Churches are always were I find God. Other places as well but always in a church.