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A monk prayed many years for a vision from God to strengthen his faith. It never came. He had almost given up hope. Then, one day, appeared a vision.
The monk was overjoyed. But right in the middle of the vision, the monastery bell rang. The ringing meant it was time to feed the poor, who gathered daily at the monastery gate. And it was the monk's turn to feed them. If he failed to appear, the poor people would leave quietly, thinking the monastery had nothing to give them that day.
The monk was torn between his earthly duty and the heavenly vision. However, before the bell stopped ringing, the monk had made a decision. With heavy heart, he turned and went off to feed the poor.
Nearly an hour later, the monk returned to his room. Upon opening the door, he could hardly believe his eyes. There was the vision, waiting for him. As the monk dropped to his knees in thanksgiving, the vision said, "My son, had you not gone off to feed the poor, I would not have stayed."
* * *
I visited a member of our congregation in an assisted living facility. Stella is a little lady, a widow in her nineties. She has a beautiful smile every time I see her, even when I had visited her in rehab, where she was suffering great pain from an ongoing back problem.
On my way, I had engaged in a hurtful and saddening conversation over the phone. I felt lost, driving around a while, as though I could not focus on where I was going.
After a while, I ended up in the parking lot of the facility. I was, some might conclude, in no shape feeling-wise to be visiting anyone, except maybe someone to minister to me.
But there I was distraught and saddened, sitting in my truck, mind occupied with a matter of much concern. I exited my vehicle. I walked to and entered the facility, smiling to the lady who let me in and asking for the room number of Stella.
After a few steps, I looked up and there was Stella, as though God had put her right there to meet me. I greeted her, and she smiled with gladness.
We found a cool place to sit and talk. I realized that I was struggling to remain present and attentive. The consternation of mind and sadness of heart kept pulling me from mindfulness. I reminded myself of both how much she needed my full presence and, also, how much I needed to transcend my own hurt by joining fully with her in spirit.
My own inner feelings began settling, as I began joining in spirit with Stella. This joining did not just happen; I had to make a prayerfully conscious effort to put aside my concerns to serve Stella as her Pastor.
Before the end of our conversation, I reached out and held Stella's hand. We talked some more. I told her that I would pray for her, first in silence and, then, audibly. She had spoken to me of her back, which had been giving her pain. I place my hand on her and began praying silently. But the Spirit urged me to move quickly to audible prayer, which is the exception when I do healing prayer. I began audibly praying, consciously remaining connected in spirit and now touch, and sensed the Divine's powerful presence.
Afterward, we spoke of my offering Eucharist to her later in the week. Then, on my way out, I spoke with a nurse about my doing some ministry at the complex, and she was enthused at my offer. So, I had opened up another possible way to serve the larger community as the Pastor of the church I serve. I was delighted, when leaving, that, despite my personal struggle, the time with Stella was a blessing and a chance to serve others there had opened up.
* * *
In the last fifty years in the United States, there has arisen a self-centered, counter-religious "spiritual culture." What is making big bucks means offering a spiritual-pleasure trip, a self-help God-formula, a me-enlightenment narcotic, a connect with the cosmos to get what you want microatomic philosophy. "Spirituality" has become an opiate of masses, a concoction for me, my, and mine. If you want to say something intellectual, deep, and real, and that is not about me, my, and mine, you better have another occupation to support yourself. If you demand of most people what the saints and mystics of all great faiths have said, you are in trouble: that is, there is only one way to become a holy man or woman, and to know God mystically ~ you must pass through the gate of humiliation and humility, you must die over and over ....
Contrast the me, my, and mine spirituality pervasive in the last years ~ and, by the way, in much of evangelical Christianity ~ with what James, Jesus' brother and first leader of the Jerusalem Church ~ and Church ~ wrote:
Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
*James 1.27, NASB
The Greek noun James uses for "religion" is threskeia. Threskeia is literally "religious worship" and refers to ceremonial ritual. So, the James passage can read well: "Pure and undefiled religious worship ..." or "religious ritual...." In New Testament thought, as in Hebrew Scripture, worship and service were blended into a single concept.
Note that "religion" is posited positively. This contrasts with much "spirituality" today. Much spirituality dissociates from the need and necessity of religion and religious community, both for individuals, families, and society. Even among many in the Christian churches, the word "religion" is viewed negativity, and many of professing Christians claim the Christian faith is not a religion, while the so-called "false religions" are religion. Nonsense, pure nonsense. Jesus was religious, and the faith in His name has always been religious. Christianity is a religious path, a worship-service religion.
James speaks of beautiful religion of the Divine as addressing service to the most needy persons. In James' time, this included orphans and widows. Today, this includes varied groups of those who are among the have-nots.
Likewise, this religion is one of social and personal holiness. Serving others and living a dignified life, with strong core values, go together. Love of others and obedience to universal principles of appropriateness in thought and action cannot ever be separated as two totally different concerns.
Okay, I have picked on "spiritualists-gnostics" some ~ and rightly. I, now, refer to the religious "Christian" right. The religious right, and politicians it has helped put in office ~ including our present leaders in the White House and Washington ~, have fully failed to enact and encourage "pure and undefiled" faith. Oh, yes! the religious ultraconservatives bark and howl about their favorite morality themes, issues like sexual ethics, euthanasia, and "traditional family values" ~ whatever they mean by that ~, but the same people have been part of supporting political and societal structures ~ what is called "structural evil" ~ that fail awfully to practice the exact compassionate politics its handymen ~ usually they are men ~ politicians speak of. Included in this is absorption of billions of funds in an unjust war, billions that could, at least partly, be going to help the many homeless, jobless, lonely, and hopeless within our society.
We need, as Christians and citizens, to get back to a Scriptural look at pure religion. If we do this, we will find that such faith and worship has been compromised both inside and outside the churches. Not only that, religious fundamentalists have co-opted Christian faith to become a political force with actions that have little to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, or with Jesus Christ.
My visit with Stella reminded me where God is calling this mystic, and that vocation is not just to higher states of consciousness, nirvana, enlightenment, moksa, some vision trip, ... The mystical path of this era is one that takes us, usually not into a monastery, but into losing ourselves in service within the structures of society and religion. For those who want either the right wing political faith or the whatever goes spirituality, then, I can only conclude they have little idea of anything but a self-serving, tribal factious party, prideful grandiosity ~ which is the exact opposite of what I see in the Jesus Christ that I love and serve as the ultimate example and universal means of pure religion.
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*OneLife has been a free offering and not asked for donations or fees. However, charitable contributions would be appreciated to assist Brian in the continuance of his work of ministry. For contributions, contact Brian through the Inquiry below.
*Brian's book of mystical love poetry, An Ache for Union: Oneness with God through Love, can be ordered through major booksellers, or through the Cokesbury on-line store, at www.cokesbury.com .
*Brian K. Wilcox lives with his two beloved dogs, St. Francis and Bandit Ty, in Southwest Florida. He serves the Christ Community United Methodist Church, Punta Gorda, FL. Brian is vowed at Greenbough House of Prayer, a contemplative Christian community in South Georgia. He lives a contemplative life and inspires others to experience a more intimate relationship with Christ. Brian advocates for a spiritually-focused Christianity and renewal of the focus of the Church on addressing the deeper spiritual needs and longings of persons, along with empathic relating with other world religions, East and West. Brian has an independent writing, workshop, and retreat ministry, for all spiritual seekers.
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