Faces on Faith: A spark of love is all it takes
Every autumn there’s an event in New York City called the White Light Festival and media have come to refer to it as an “aural journey into the spiritual.” Musical events include: Bach’s “St. Matthew’s Passion,” Rachmaninoff’s “All-Night Vigil,” and Schubert’s “Winterreise” to mention a few. The events take place all over the city – in concert halls, churches and outdoor venues – always involving a broad spectrum of musicians and challenging musical scores. One reporter described this annual event, “There is something in the festival for almost all spiritual questers affording audiences an opportunity to adopt a receptive mindset and become immersed in music that consciously explores spiritual realms.”
In this age where scholars explore and study where religions and faith systems are heading, and have even created the category of “spiritual seekers,” I guess the White Light Festival is a good thing for those seeking spiritual depth, or a connection to something greater than themselves. If they can discover that deeper or higher plane, that essence that surpasses our human understanding – through music, that’s great. Even the Episcopal Hymnal states that it was written “as a response to the challenge of the church’s mission to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to a changed and changing world.” A changed and changing world – what an understatement – to which I’d add complex, ambiguous and turbulent.
Part of the challenge for all of us on faith journeys or even as we “explore spiritual realms” through music or scripture or meditation or reaching out to those in need is to remember that the word “spiritual” gets tossed around a lot in our society, and is defined in myriad ways. We must not lose sight of what binds us together spiritually – God’s presence working among us. If we’re oblivious to this, then seeking to deepen our spirituality or our faith can simply become navel gazing or bordering on “new age” – rather than be an attempt to deepen our relationship with the Divine, Higher Power, or God – however we describe that which we cannot adequately describe. We must keep searching and seeking and exploring – utilizing music and all of creation – to focus us back. Mister Eckhart, who lived from 1260-1327, used to liken our souls to “a spark of God that is to be nourished until the person attains full communion with the divine and is filled with love.”
As we continue to come back together on these islands during this autumn season, it’s OK to be a spiritual quester. But as we adopt a more receptive mindset, also keep your eyes and ears open to where the divine is working in our lives. Whether through beautiful music in church or at BIG ARTS, whether through a walk on the beach, or extending a hand to a stranger, God’s powerful spirit continues to work as it nourishes the “spark of God” that lies in all of us -drawing us more and more away from hate and divisions, and more toward healing and love.