Reconnect with spiritual energy and love

Did you ever study Latin? Back in the day, my early education required it and while I could never successfully pass an “examen” on the subject now, those early lessons remain with me today and still serve a purpose, especially in the crafting of words.

The root of the word religion is thought to be “ligare,” which means to join, fasten or connect. As such, religion can be said to have originated as a way to connect or reconnect with The Divine. The question becomes: How? These days, my thoughts, readings and conversations lead me away from rules, theologies, dogmas and doctrines — although I do believe that these systems of belief have a place, serve a purpose and can, rather miraculously, lead me into the intimacy of mysticism. They provide an evolutionary path from the head to the heart.

If we can accept the definition of mysticism as a personal, direct experience with God (however we define that force), then we have a starting point into the flow of Divine energy, the acceptance of an invitation into the experience of Divine love. The gap between human love and

Divine love is, at times, a chasm, challenging to bridge. The bridge of mysticism provides us a foundation for walking and living in the experience of God rather than theorizing about it.

In my days of serving as a Corporate Educator, the learning gap was defined as the gap between the individual’s current skill level and the knowledge that was needed to improve or excel. My job was to provide the learning that would fill that gap and bring success to the employee, the company and, ultimately, the customer. I loved my work.

But how do we undertake the filling of the Spiritual

Gap? How do we reconnect or join with the Divine? I’m not certain there is a lesson plan or a FAQ sheet for that.

I do believe, however, that there are guideposts along the way, along our path. Christians spend time in contemplative prayer, Hindus use meditation and Zen opens the door to engage in the interconnection of all beings. Native Americans honor creation and connect deeply to the earth and her energies and offerings. All major traditions have an element of detaching from the self through silence and stillness and engaging in holy listening. We come to know, in our bones, that Presence is there waiting for us.

In those moments where deep compassion flows freely through us, grace makes itself known in definable ways and we feel the hand of God upon us, connected, fastened and joined by Divine love. In solitude we meet and greet ourselves and God within the “myst” of Presence.

It seems to me that these are the mystical experiences shared by Julian of Norwich, John of the Cross, Moses, The Buddha and so many others. The transformation of the heart, the mind and the soul, by interlocking with the Source of All is the glorious experience of mysticism, and, this transformation is available, is possible, for all of us.

And so in these summer days of the world’s reopening, let us make time and space to reopen ourselves, to bridge our spiritual gaps and reconnect with that flow of Divine energy and love. Let us sit in silence and share the grace and joys of mysticism with the Divine and, then, reconnect with each other. We might even brush up on our Latin!