Spirituality: A Resounding “Yes!”
Fully understanding that the Spirit of God is within, I faced great difficulty putting into words that which keeps me connected to God and aligned with creation. Perhaps the Spirit of God does not desire to be captured, but wishes rather to capture humanity. Interestingly, Jürgen Moltmann’s insightful metaphor captures the Spirit’s wholeness by calling it the Spirit of Life; the unrestricted presence of God that awakens our life.1 “Unrestricted presence” precludes any attempt to contain the Spirit that never sought to be confined. The Spirit of Life is available to the whole of creation and forges a connection that extends beyond human limitation and prejudice, thereby forming “spirituality.”
The Spirit of Life births a desire to wholly live and experience the unrestricted presence of God. It prompts the move toward justice, righteousness, peace, and equality that transcends human bigotries. It awakens creation and brings us closer to the cadence of God’s heart. It encourages cries from deep to deep in such a way that creation is heartbroken by that which breaks God’s heart.2 Here is where the communion of the Spirit takes place. It is the role of the Spirit to bring all things together, uniting them with God to cultivate completion in God. The Holy Spirit acts as the go-between operating in every element and process of the universe, creating an unrestricted presence.3 In this way, Spirituality, is woven through the whole of creation and acknowledged in all things.
Jesus’ baptism must have been one of the most beautiful illustrations of the Spirit of Life. John’s reflection of this life changing encounter called attention to the splendor of Spirituality. “And just as He was coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on Him. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased. And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.’4 The presence of the Holy Spirit resting upon Jesus caused a reaction in the created order, sky, earth, and oceans. The use of the word “heaven” in this passage of scripture comes from the Greek word ouranothen, which means “sky.”5 At the onset of the presence of the Spirit of Life the sky opened, God made a proclamation, and Jesus was immediately driven to begin his ministry and fulfill his life’s purpose. We find beauty in the Holy Spirit’s ability to transcend time and space. The same Spirit that rested upon Jesus during his baptism is the same Spirit that continually rests upon humanity and pulls us toward fulfilling our life’s purpose. Spirituality calls us to reach within to fulfill God’s external purpose. This scene illustrates the connection between humanity, divinity and creation where all pieces of the created order operate in perfect harmony and divine cooperation.
The experience of God deepens the experiences of life and awakens the unconditional “Yes” to life. The more I love God, the more gladly I exist. The more immediately and wholly I exist, the more I sense the living God, the inexhaustible well of life, and life’s eternity.6 Spirituality at its best spawns a desire to live a whole life; inhaling compassion and love for all, and exhaling injustice and calamity.
Although Spirituality initiates a submission to life and is the source of humanity’s connection with creation, it has ironically been neglected in religious spheres of influence. Spirituality has not been given the same amount of attention as Christology and Ecclesiology. While church services are sure to speak of God and certainly acknowledge Jesus Christ (especially at the conclusion of every prayer), spirituality is not given significant attention. Though heavy emphasis is placed on programs and self-serving agendas, the church has a divine obligation to be attentive to the Spirit of Life and eradicate injustice for all. I dare to guarantee that if the church would place a stronger emphasis on spirituality, it would have less difficulty capturing members and engaging in sustainable ministry. Encouraging environments and conversation where people can explore the multidimensional characteristics of Holy Spirit will help people to recognize the spirit of life in all things. The authentic community does not consist of a homogenous group, but rather embraces differences in the whole of creation. Open dialogue about Spirituality’s ability to transcend human constructs will allow people to see past differences and become awakened to our connectedness with each other through the Spirit of Life.
From the beginning of the created order God purposed the bond between humanity and creation. “The Lord God formed [humanity] from the dust of the ground, and breathed into [its] nostrils the breath of life; and the [human] became a living being. And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east; and there [God] put the [person] whom he had formed (Gen. 2:7-8, NRSV).” The scene gave a captivating visual of God breathing into humanity’s nostrils, thus spawning a yield to life. God’s breath gives life and calls for the authenticity of God’s love.
The concept of breathing is one of the most common indicators of Spirituality. Before a doctor takes a pulse, temperature, or heartbeat it checks for breath. Understanding that God grants humanity the ability to inhale and exhale every day, we ought to sanction this act that is most commonly taken for granted. If God breathed into humanity, thus giving us life, then we ought to exhale the aroma of God’s breath wherever we go. Yet, it is amazing how some hold their breath while walking past the homeless. Others hold their breath while witnessing public displays of abuse, corporate abuse of power, oppressive ministry leaders, passive racism, pastoral extortionists, church oppression, and unrealistic reality television. If we embody the breath of God, it should be innate behavior to exhale and stand responsibly against that which is unpleasing to God, thus, spirituality in action.
The Spirit of Life fosters an instinctive response to injustice. Just as Jesus sought to set the captives free and feed the poor, humanity must take its role in society. Just as God gave humankind dominion over all of creation, humanity has a responsibility to seek justice and righteousness for all. Both creation and humanity are obligated to yield to the Spirit of Life with a resounding “yes!” As Paul wrote, “For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”
Notes
1. Jürgen Moltmann, The Source of Life (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1992), 10.
2. Israel Houghton and New Breed, "Deeper," A Deeper Level, Cond. Sony Music Distribution, Comps. Israel Houghton and New Breed, 2007.
3. Edwards, Denis, Breath of Life: A Theology of the Creator Spirit (Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 2007) 48.
4. Mark 1:10-12, NRSV.
5. James H Strong, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, Complete and Unabridged (Peabody: Hendrickson Publishers, 2007).
6. Jürgen Moltmann, The Source of Life, 98.
