The condition of mysticism will never be over, for we are of it. We never feel at home elsewhere, but only in the serenity and comfort of our communion with God. We may attempt to make excuses for this state, hoping that it would finally go away and we would then we able to function well in the “real” world. Yet, not only has this never been meant to be, we must no longer yearn for what we are not.
—Beverly Lanzetta, Path of the Heart
Theologian Beverly Lanzetta writes of the universal nature of mystical longing:
In religious traditions, the word “mysticism” refers to a direct experience of Divine Presence, and to the highest levels of union with Divine Mystery. It also includes the human longing for the ultimate, and the path the soul follows toward intimacy with God. It implies that the mystical quest is intrinsic to human nature—that our souls are constituted to turn toward the divine light as a plant turns toward the sun…. The impetus of one’s entire being never rests until it rests in God. This internal movement toward divine communion—rather than our daily distraction—is the essence of spirituality. When our hearts are diverted from the quest for meaning and love, we suffer. When we experience the true longing of the soul, seeking union with the divine—we know the meaning of life itself and are illuminated by the light of peace.
Yet, haven’t most of us attempted to make excuses for this deep, interior longing, hoping that it would finally go away and we would be able to function in the “real” world?… We tell ourselves we are not worthy of communion; we’re not capable. Yet despite our denial, the mystical heartbeat never abates; its lifeblood courses through our veins, calling us home.
When we focus on this one essential need, we discover the soul’s passion to belong to God. And it is this insistent tug from the infinite that guides our souls on the mystic quest and compels openness of heart.
Lanzetta encourages us to nurture our mystical longing for God through all the challenges we face:
Through this pursuit of devotion to God, you will at times grieve over abandoning what society considers necessary for material and professional survival. Daily you will struggle to reconcile the tension between what is socially practical and your desire to give your heart to the quest. Then the false self will resist: “I must be practical, I must take care of my survival needs, I must not give too much.” These are the voices that obstruct the soul’s desire, even as it experiences the inner light and is consumed by a need for love.
No doubt some will view spiritual longing as impractical. But, mystically, the passion for the Divine is extremely practical; in fact, it is the only practicality. For the soul’s longing to rest in God [is] a road map and a key to unlocking the true self.
Reference:
Beverly Lanzetta, Path of the Heart: A Spiritual Guide to Divine Union, expanded ed. with commentary (Blue Sapphire Books, 2015), 100–101.
Image credit and inspiration: Alexander Klarmann, Untitled (detail), 2017, photo, Unsplash. Click here to enlarge image. The leaf can be a doorway into being with what is, experiencing the ineffable and intangible nature of the Great Mystery.
Story from Our Community:
I was moved by Mirabai Starr’s reflection, “Our Families Are Teachers,” which explored how to embrace the reality of our lives and relationships with all their challenges. In fact, I feel like it was written just for me. Currently, I am caring for a husband with dementia which involves, in Mirabai’s words, “shattered dreams” and “disappointments and dramas,” especially involving family members who aren’t always supportive in this difficult journey. I intend to try to embrace Mirabai’s sage counsel to “stop arguing with reality and instead soften into what is.” I find that to be such an affirming notion in the midst of the daily frustrations and sadness.
—Heather N.
