Many times, what we experience in life is less a sense of belonging than a sense of “be-longing.” We long for that one person, that true home, that genuine community, where we will be completely known, completely accepted, completely at one with those around us. But once we leave the womb there is no way to escape the longing for perfect union, which we can experience only in fleeting moments before the reality of living as an individual amongst other individuals, each with our own needs and perspectives, takes over.
When have you experienced a sense of perfect communion?
I suppose I feel it most when my wife and son are curled up with me in bed.
There have been times with my husband,of course, also my mother. Lately there have been 2 times. A few years ago we had a wonderful minister who was particularly charismatic. We clicked instantly. There was a deep & penetrating spiritual connection. It was incredible! Unfortunately, she left our congregation a few months after we began to talk. I still miss her. I feel that if I had been seeing her after my daughter committed suicide & her twin divorced me I would not be fighting depression or be on so much psychotropic Rx. When the news came that she was leaving, I cried for2 whole days. Loosing her was particularly gut-wrenching for me.
The other time was about a month after the suicide of my daughter, when I first saw her sons after her death. The youngest was not yet 2 years old. I was rocking the youngest for his afternoon nap & I swear that I was channeling her presence through me to my grandson. That following Christmas, when her sons were at our home for a few days, again, I was putting the boys to bed. With each one I felt a warm wave of presence flow through me & I knew that she was there with us again. Another time while was doing my daily devotions, I had a waking vision based on a psalm that I was reading, again I was transported through my spiritual self to a mythic time. There were a few other times when that spiritual presence visited me. But after my daughter’s death & the loss of that minister I feel that my religion has left me & I feel very much alone spiritually these days.
At the Ohio-Meadville Summer Institute in Gambier, Ohio! Thanks for being with us last year, Meg; this year we were graced by the presence of Rev. Art McDonald and our theme was Social Justice as a Spiritual Path. I’m so very blessed to have this UU community available to me for one whole week each year. If you live in the OMD, be sure to check it out next year!