“The spiritual life is first of all a life.” – Thomas Merton
We think in categories. Black or white. Republican or Democrat. In an attempt to understand the world around us, we strain to put structure to the expanse of life. In recent years, this only seems to be more pronounced. Yet with a little examination, we can show the flaws in these classifications. Life is full of nuance and robust thought that dissolves simple explanations.
When it comes to the “spiritual”, we do the same thing. It helps us to understand God in boxes. Grace. Salvation. Sin. Death. All are funnels we attribute to God with little carry over. However with the matters of God, we do ourselves a disservice and rob God of His power when we try to limit Him or His movement. Our expression of devotion and faith must be limitless in order for it to be effective. There must not be a limit to His reach. What makes people like Thomas Merton so attune to the spiritual is his ability to see a God without borders. If God is God, then He is God of the micro details of our mundane life. There is nothing too boring, awkward, or worldly for His touch and movement.
In our practice of the spiritual, we have to have the same practice of lifting any restrictions to Him. We invite the Holy into our schedules and production with a fervor to unite the fallen with the magnificent. This is the Christian life – to bring the incarnate Christ into the absurd realities of existence.
There is nothing out of His reach. There is nothing beyond His desire.
Matt simon blog 