Simple Spirituality

[hajas]

Hello to everyone, this is my first post here, Ive enjoyed reading all the others... I typed a very long post last night only to have it disappear! I'll try again... I wonder if there are others who feel "spirituality" in a simple way. To me it is all very simple, when I want to worship, I go for a hike in the woods. Last weekend I felt a gentle warm breeze as I hiked around and to me that is feeling God. When I listen to certain music, I feel spiritual. I am the type of person though, that cannot claim to be a ____ or a _____ (religion) unless I completely agree and embrace all of that religion's teachings, though I don't claim that any religion is wrong or isnt the truth... I just find the beautiful parts and if someone completely digs their religion I completely support them. For a long time, Buddhism was it for me, I loved the idea of loving-compassion for all, of mindfulness and many other ideas and practices I use now and always will. I was slightly turned off when I found a hint of sexism in the teachings, which I know were because of the times culturally when they were written, but have had a hard time forgetting none the less..... Just as I could never comfortably claim to be a Christian with all there is in the Bible that is completely opposite of what I feel to be right.... When I say it is simple, I mean, for me, I see and feel beauty everywhere... I feel close to "God" and feel the power of prayer though I don't have a specific label that seems to "fit" that others can understand. Does this make sense to anyone? I have to admit that I do feel somewhat alone in this and that I long for spiritual unity with others, I guess I came close when I lived in California and atleast most people had the same environmental mind-set. I now live in an area of the US where people are very loose with their trash and cig butts, lazy with their bodies yet veRY "RELIGIOUS" as well.. My closest friend from here didn't speak to me for a year because she said I had the devil within because of my "nature crap" (my experiencing God through Nature) ... And that I had no right to celebrate Christmas, Easter etc etc etc..... She is a born Again type.... I have always supported her views and have never tried to change her way of thinking, if I can learn from her-wonderful- but I wanted to share how I felt as well.... She couldn't allow it... Anyway- I am rambling now, but this has been fun! Just thought maybe there were others who felt God in a simple way, without all these man-made rules, rules, words, words, fears , fears.... ThANKS FOR LISTENING......

[Blue]

WELCOME, 'hajas',

Your posting I thought was delightful for its clarity and sincerity.
I really enjoyed what you wrote and can go no further in commenting
at the moment...

"my experiencing God through Nature"
What better way to experience the spiritual!

Thanks for the thoughts.

[Faithfulservant]

Welcome to the board Hajas " My closest friend from here didn't speak to me for a year because she said I had the devil within because of my "nature crap" (my experiencing God through Nature) ... And that I had no right to celebrate Christmas, Easter etc etc etc..... She is a born Again type.... I have always supported her views and have never tried to change her way of thinking, if I can learn from her-wonderful- but I wanted to share how I felt as well.... She couldn't allow it... "

This is just a bit extreme to me. It sounds judgemental and I dont agree with any of it and Im a Christian.

I experience that same feeling of God when im in nature. In a windstorm or a lightening storm I feel exhilerated. Theres so much energy flowing around and through me. That is spiritual to me. Or a calm night when the breeze is cool and I can smell apple blossoms I praise God. Hiking through the wilderness when I see the beauty surrounding me that is spiritual and Im overwhelmed at the gift of it. I get the same feeling when I open up my bible and find a beautiful jewel of wisdom and its clear to me what God wants me to know. Or when Im praying and I feel the Holy Spirit move through me.

Thank you for your beautiful post. I believe you search for God in your surroundings and he is speaking to you. Keep listening.. and please dont think that all Christians are like your friend because we arent.

Faithful Servant

[I, Brian]

HI hajas, and welcome to CR.

Sounds like a fairly excellent stance - to appreciate God through Experience of the World, rather than God the Literary Exercise.

[PersonaNonGrata]

Originally Posted by hajas

Hello to everyone, this is my first post here, Ive enjoyed reading all the others... I typed a very long post last night only to have it disappear! I'll try again... I wonder if there are others who feel "spirituality" in a simple way. To me it is all very simple, when I want to worship, I go for a hike in the woods. Last weekend I felt a gentle warm breeze as I hiked around and to me that is feeling God. When I listen to certain music, I feel spiritual. I am the type of person though, that cannot claim to be a ____ or a _____ (religion) unless I completely agree and embrace all of that religion's teachings, though I don't claim that any religion is wrong or isnt the truth... I just find the beautiful parts and if someone completely digs their religion I completely support them. For a long time, Buddhism was it for me, I loved the idea of loving-compassion for all, of mindfulness and many other ideas and practices I use now and always will. I was slightly turned off when I found a hint of sexism in the teachings, which I know were because of the times culturally when they were written, but have had a hard time forgetting none the less..... Just as I could never comfortably claim to be a Christian with all there is in the Bible that is completely opposite of what I feel to be right.... When I say it is simple, I mean, for me, I see and feel beauty everywhere... I feel close to "God" and feel the power of prayer though I don't have a specific label that seems to "fit" that others can understand. Does this make sense to anyone? I have to admit that I do feel somewhat alone in this and that I long for spiritual unity with others, I guess I came close when I lived in California and atleast most people had the same environmental mind-set. I now live in an area of the US where people are very loose with their trash and cig butts, lazy with their bodies yet veRY "RELIGIOUS" as well.. My closest friend from here didn't speak to me for a year because she said I had the devil within because of my "nature crap" (my experiencing God through Nature) ... And that I had no right to celebrate Christmas, Easter etc etc etc..... She is a born Again type.... I have always supported her views and have never tried to change her way of thinking, if I can learn from her-wonderful- but I wanted to share how I felt as well.... She couldn't allow it... Anyway- I am rambling now, but this has been fun! Just thought maybe there were others who felt God in a simple way, without all these man-made rules, rules, words, words, fears , fears.... ThANKS FOR LISTENING......

Hey welcome! enjoy your stay here and let me tell you that you that you are part of a community buddy :smİlİe

What you are experiencing now is, one way or another kind of a self-enlightenment. (i am certain, yeah i am) And this englihtenment mostly happens, as in your case, when you are alone with the Creator Do's. I mean unspoiled state of the createds lol
At this very moment since you are now open to both energy types in the universe you may need to have difficulties in choosing a site.
so called devil or badness by the religions, omen energy that is cruising probably would like to go in thee. I have experienced the same things actually, take it as a friendly welcome warning on your way to participate..
i'd assume ive talked too much, well,
see you around ) xcuse my being (

PNG

:thedevıl:

[Virtual_Cliff]

Hi Hajas

I enjoyed reading your post. I think you'll find you're among friends here.

Sorry to hear about your bad experience with the born-agains. Some people need the comfort of clearly demarcated rules and boundaries. It gives them security and belonging. Others need to be looking out at the horizon and wondering what lies beyond. I think you can learn something from everyone.

Perhaps your B-A-Christian friend would be interested in reading about the lives of some of the great Christian saints - St Jerome who preferred to live alone in a cave, St Francis, or Cuthbert, who stood in the sea at night and prayed surrounded by seals and dolphins.

Anyway, I hope you find something on this forum that it useful.

God bless,
Virtual_Cliff

[Sacredstar]

Dear hajas

Yes you are so right it is so very simple, as simple as nature itself. It is mankind that make it everything complicated.

A pleasure to welcome you to CR

Love beyond measure

Sacredstar

[timrevis]

Hi - this is my first post but Hajas's post struck a chord with me. I am a born-again Christian but I loathe to venture into larger services and the only reason I do it is because of the command to join together with the fellow believers but I personally find it more of a distraction than a help. I somtimes find myself at an 8:30 service where the ministers outnumber the congregants and I like it. I have often wondered if there was a translation error in Scripture where Christ said that where ever two or three were gathered together in His name . . . maybe that was supposed to be 'no more than two or three should be gathered together in My name!' But two or three of what? For all I know, the birds and the breeze may be in a state of worship and count as the other participants and in that instance, the requisite number is certainly present! Tim

[Virtual_Cliff]

Originally Posted by timrevis

maybe that was supposed to be 'no more than two or three should be gathered together in My name!'

Tim

Welcome! I have heard it said that twelve is an ideal number - the number of disciples. More than that and you begin to lose your identity, and you can't really know and support one another as you should. But two or three is pretty powerful too. I think that when you're filled with the spirit of love you don't want to celebrate on your own. What do you think?

[Sacredstar]

Dear timrevis

You are a refreshing born again welcome to CR.

Yes hard to hear GOD in large numbers. The sacred union with the divine is a very special relationship and you wouldn't want too many people involved in your real relationship, so why would we choose it in our relationship with GOD?

blessings in abundance

Sacredstar

[ISFP]

hajas- thank you for your beautiful post. your spiritual life exemplifies very well a favorite Hindu saying "it is better to see God in everything than to try to figure it out".

welcome!

[Virtual_Cliff]

This site might prove interesting to Hajas and those of a similar disposition:

http://www.hermitary.com/

[hajas]

hajas- thank you for your beautiful post. your spiritual life exemplifies very well a favorite Hindu saying "it is better to see God in everything than to try to figure it out".

I LOVE THAT!!! And thanks to all of you for your positivity...

[DT Strain]

Hajas,

Actually in ancient times people often didn't make a distinction between the natural and the supernatural that we do today. The idea of "other dimensions" is something faily new in human history. When most of our ancient writers write of "heaven" they literally mean what you see when you look up at night. And when they spoke of "spirit" they believed the soul could be seen on a cold day. The very word "spiritual" then refers not necessarily to the non-natural, but it means "the essence of something". The stoics believed that God permiated all of nature and was synonimous with "logos" or the "reason" by which all of nature operates.

Whether we believe there is a supernatural realm or not, I think it's quite a healthy and spiritual thing to take in the beauty and awe of our natural universe.

[Basstian]

As I read this post I heard in my mind my mother singing as she did the dishes

I come to the Garden alone while the dew is still on the roses and the voice I hear falling on my ear the Son of God discloses

Blah to the BA Christian saying you have a devil.

Where did Jesus go the wilderness ,the Garden in his most urgent time.

I long for the oppurtunity to just sit and be amazed as my God paints a new sunset every summer evening. I feel His awesome power when the Thunder and lightning fill the sky. I am amazed by a Creator so in tune with His creation that He knows when a sparrow falls.

Go on those Hikes listen For God and enjoy His being with you. Just remember not to put the creature above the Creator He placed all this wonder here for you to enjoy.

Thank you for this thread I havent in my mind heard my mother sing for a long time now you have Blessed my evening with the memory.

P.S. I am a devote _________ who serves Jesus