Dear All of Us,
For all its stretch,
apparel made of
Spandex can only
expand or contract
just so much.
One size definitely
does not fit all.
So it is with
our spiritual life.
There is no such thing as a
Spandex Spirituality.
One size does not fit all.
Yet there is pressure
for many
to squeeze into
spiritual practices,
persuasions
and experiences
woven in a spandex
of popular preferences.
Trying to fit in
is ruinous.
We are not meant
to somehow or other
force fit ourselves
into a spiritually
pre-set pattern
and sizing.
The Spirit of God
happens in us
in all sorts of
varied and splendid
spiritual shapings
and styles.
Our wardrobe changes as
we mature and change
over the years.
So does what fits
just right spiritually.
At twenty I wore
size thirty waist pants.
At eighty plus
so is my waist
(a "plus" that is,
but not sized eighty)
At twenty I tried hard
to constantly live
in the presence of God.
At eighty plus
(we've clarified that, right?)
I let God do the heavy lifting.
We are just together
and that on God's terms,
times and ways.
As we ware clothing
that fits our
basic body type,
so we want to be arrayed
in a spirituality that fits
our soul type.
See types and fits
as different as those of
Augustine, Teresa of Avila,
John Wesley, Dorothy Day,
Howard Thurman, Gandhi
Thomas Merton, MLK,
and for many, our parents.
The texture and style of
our personal spirituality
is as varied as
western denim is
from Mulberry silk,
as outfits from Walmart
are from BNYK.
Some of us are
rather cerebral
while others of us
are highly emotional.
Some are introspective,
others activists,
some scientific,
others artistic,
imaginative,
many happily rather
plain and simple.
God comes alive
in and through us
uniquely sized and styled.
I never found
the rosary a fit.
Yet, I have seen people
lost in mystical union
while praying the rosary.
I can fall into
an experience of God
by getting lost in a flower.
A rose is my rosary.
A rose wouldn't do it
for someone else, though.
One size does not fit all.
A soul squeeze
is a bad fit.
What's going on
within us and around us
effects a good fit spiritually.
We need to dress accordingly:
- going through changes like
puberty, menopause,
old age
- being in good or poor health
- going off to college,
the military, a different part
of the country
- being single or marrying
and raising a family
- having the benefit of
a wide ranging education
and cultural exposure, or not
- living in poverty or
being financially well off
- caring for a needful
parent, child, or spouse
- realizing that our
religious institution is
flawed and failing
- discovering a wonderful
spiritual guide
- our sexual orientation
and maturity
- first fervor, mellowing, ageing
Our spiritual style
and experience
isn't something to develop.
It is something to discover,
to accept and live.
We do well
to let God lead,
to tailor things
just right for us.
At times that will feel
pretty darn good.
At times that will be
rather rough.
The first is an easy fit.
The second is not.
It takes grit and patience.
God is suiting us
for spiritual life
as both life
and the world
are just now.
A thick woolen coat is
heavy, confining
and cumbersome.
For all that,
it's what we need
in a blizzard.
Think of Mother Theresa.
She realized
her religious order
wasn't up
to spiritual snuff
and that she didn't fit in.
So, she founded
a new one.
She and her sisters
lived in the midst of
grinding need.
They served simply
and lovingly.
For most of her life
Mother Thresa did that
by sheer faith.
She experienced
no spiritual ecstasy
or delight.
She had all sorts of doubts.
She just trusted,
loved and served.
She was a saint well "suited"
to her time, place,
and circumstance.
While we're all
cut from the same cloth,
we're all styled and sized
ever so specially, particularly.
No Spandex Spirituality for us.
God tailors
a wonderful array of us.
Our life, to be spiritual,
is to dress accordingly
and gratefully.
God Bless Every
Different One Of Us,
John Frank
******
A hearty welcome
to each and all of us,
first timers, many timers,
all sorts of souls that we are.
A special recognition
of our regulars from
Portugal
"frankly speaking"
spirituality for the street
is posted Wednesday evenings
east coast USA time
johnfrankshares.blogspot.com
easily bookmarked
an email edition is available Fridays
sign up for it is top right online posting
all past postings are available at
Blog Archive
online version, right column
"...put on a heart of compassion,
kindness, humility, gentleness,
and patience..."
Colossians 3:12
Hey, you're looking good.
See you next week.
******
