“Spirituality is not to be learned by flight from the world, or by running away from things, or by turning solitary and going apart from the world. Rather, we must learn an inner solitude wherever or with whomsoever we may be. We must learn to penetrate things and find God there.” ~ Meister Eckhart (1260-1327)I like reading quotes from Meister Eckhart, the German theologian, philosopher and mystic. And I think that he makes a great point here. Sometimes we can shoot ourselves for not having a mystic-like prayer-life, where we spend hour upon hour alone in a dark candle-lit room with the Divine Mystery. Many spiritual teachers talk about the importance of spending time away from the world or running away from things. And sometimes this is necessary. Many of us go through times when we feel drawn away from people - even our close friends - or activities so that we may grow spiritually. This may take a long time. However, eventually we have to learn to have the inner solitude that Eckhart talks about, a solitude and an inner Divine peace "wherever or with whomsoever we may be." When we are walking down the street or when we are sitting across the table having coffee with a friend, we can still focus on our hearts. For instance, currently I am sitting in a busy downtown coffee shop and still I can feel the inner aching for that Divine Mystery which calls me to itself. I need not be alone all of the time. It may very well be in the crowded coffee shop or in the busy mall that God can be found.
Always be willing for divine surprises.
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