July 30, The Kingdom of God Within” William Wilberforce Matt. 13:44-46
Last night I spent an hour with 34 year old “J”. He came by for supplies, and I have known him since he was 20. He talks of getting a “job”, “an apartment”, and so on, as he has for 20 years. He went through all the youth agency programs, and has tried the City programs, none work, primary because of his addiction to heroine. The use of drugs is a disease, but it is also a sign of not having peace within. We go after money, and power as drugs, and in the process we destroy ourselves and each other.
A deep spirituality connects us to God, to our inner selves and to each other. It takes time, and really hard work, and diligence, but the rewards are being connective to God, to ourselves, and to our community:
“Spirituality draws us into the depths of our being, where we come face to face with ourselves, our weaknesses, and with ultimate mystery. Many understandably prefer to avoid this frightening prospect by sinking into external religiosity and the safe routines of liturgy or ritual. A genuinely spiritual person passionately commits to this inner development. He or she knows that life is a spiritual journey, and that each one of us must take this journey alone, even while surrounded by loved ones.”
– Wayne Teasedale, The Mystic Heart
William Wilberforce is an example of a man who used inner spirituality to propel his outer actions–he singlehandedly pushed the British government to outlaw slavery, he gave his life to that. If each of us would put the same force into eliminating poverty and hunger it can be done. Spirituality draws us into being a force for good, to put ourselves second.
Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God!