Touching the Infinite Sun, 22nd September, 2013
This morning’s reflection is inspired by my 20th anniversary trip to the ocean. While this particular place and occasion are unique in my experience, what I say here today will not be original. For many before me have felt equally moved and humbled as they stood face to face with a vast ocean.
As I took a morning run along that smooth and moist track where the waves meet the sand, I was filled with a sense of awe and wonder. As one who is contemplating a life of the spirit and ministry to fellow souls, the infinite ocean became for me a symbol of the deep mystery, the infinite power of the spirit realm. The pulsing surf spoke to me of my own insignificance as I observed how the lapping of a single wave erases the erratic tracks of seagulls and the footprints of human beach-goers.
Most of us see only the surface of the spiritual world. Very few have the patience or bravery to fully experience the depth of this translucent universe that teems with life and energy unknown to us terrestrial beings. So we’re content to sit or walk along its edge and contemplate infinity. Like the gulls, we clamor on the edges of the spiritual universe, performing our daily rituals, occasionally snatching a morsel to nourish us, glimpsing moments of beauty. We dip our toes in the water, and some will even wade out into this alternate universe to lose ourselves in the waves for a few moments. Sometimes we are determined to be passive observers, yet the splashing waves surge and catch us unaware, creating moments of panic and delight.
Like the foaming waves, my feelings ebb and flow—in one moment contented wonderment that comes from being in the presence of this divine power, and in the next a helpless regret that I will never glimpse what lies beyond infinity. Many love the beach but truly fear the ocean. There is fear of riptides, fear of sharks or barracudas, fear of drowning.
And this is the art of meditation and other moments of deep spiritual connection. Metaphorically speaking, we have to hold our breath—suspend our normal routines and set aside our fears—in order to dive into the deep. At first we can only experience this quiet, surreal universe for a few moments at a time. As we practice, we can hold our breath longer, begin to open our eyes under water, relax our bodies, let go of the fear of the unknown, and for a brief time measured in heartbeats, commune with the infinite. These are the moments when we feel true contentment, compassion, and deep, unconditional love.
This is my wish for you, and for all of us—to experience these moments of transcendence, to know your own insignificance, and to keep living and loving anyway.
This morning’s reflection is inspired by my 20th anniversary trip to the ocean. While this particular place and occasion are unique in my experience, what I say here today will not be original. For many before me have felt equally moved and humbled as they stood face to face with a vast ocean.
As I took a morning run along that smooth and moist track where the waves meet the sand, I was filled with a sense of awe and wonder. As one who is contemplating a life of the spirit and ministry to fellow souls, the infinite ocean became for me a symbol of the deep mystery, the infinite power of the spirit realm. The pulsing surf spoke to me of my own insignificance as I observed how the lapping of a single wave erases the erratic tracks of seagulls and the footprints of human beach-goers.
Most of us see only the surface of the spiritual world. Very few have the patience or bravery to fully experience the depth of this translucent universe that teems with life and energy unknown to us terrestrial beings. So we’re content to sit or walk along its edge and contemplate infinity. Like the gulls, we clamor on the edges of the spiritual universe, performing our daily rituals, occasionally snatching a morsel to nourish us, glimpsing moments of beauty. We dip our toes in the water, and some will even wade out into this alternate universe to lose ourselves in the waves for a few moments. Sometimes we are determined to be passive observers, yet the splashing waves surge and catch us unaware, creating moments of panic and delight.
Like the foaming waves, my feelings ebb and flow—in one moment contented wonderment that comes from being in the presence of this divine power, and in the next a helpless regret that I will never glimpse what lies beyond infinity. Many love the beach but truly fear the ocean. There is fear of riptides, fear of sharks or barracudas, fear of drowning.
And this is the art of meditation and other moments of deep spiritual connection. Metaphorically speaking, we have to hold our breath—suspend our normal routines and set aside our fears—in order to dive into the deep. At first we can only experience this quiet, surreal universe for a few moments at a time. As we practice, we can hold our breath longer, begin to open our eyes under water, relax our bodies, let go of the fear of the unknown, and for a brief time measured in heartbeats, commune with the infinite. These are the moments when we feel true contentment, compassion, and deep, unconditional love.
This is my wish for you, and for all of us—to experience these moments of transcendence, to know your own insignificance, and to keep living and loving anyway.
