Materiality

I might take it as a compliment if someone called me a "spiritual" person. I used to think the epitome of spirituality and holiness looked something like St. Francis of Assisi sitting for days on a rooftop, contemplating the nature of existence and starving himself.

Over the past few years, I've started to lose respect for that kind of demonstration of faith. Inner spirituality has a place, but it is only a small part of Christianity.

When I think about it, I'm surprised at the degree to which the material helps me connect to God. It's like a necessary refractor for revelation. When I look at a mountain, feel a breeze, hear a song, or look into a child's eyes, I see God; I feel God; I know God more intimately. The beautiful things of this world, whether they were made by divine or human hands, all exist materially, and we must interact with them materially in order for that inner, spiritual experience of God.

When the metaphysical and physical work together, the one facilitates the potency of the other over human experience. That's why I think, for me, I need to pay more attention and take better care of material things. They are conduits of divine expression, and are therefore, sacred in themselves.

So...I think I might go clean my room.