Ask yourself this, what is Spirituality? If you were speaking to an alien from another planet, how would you describe Spirituality? For some, Spirituality is being in touch with one's core, one's inner self, the core of who we are. For others, Spirituality is being in touch with a higher power, having a relationship with God.

One thing is for certain, Spirituality has a particular attitude associated with it, a unique way of being. Spiritual people see things differently, they experience things differently than others. Spiritual people see things through Spiritual eyes.

For example, what does a person see when looking at a tree? A carpenter may look upon a tree as a source for building material. A person who is cold may look upon a tree as a source of fire wood. But a Spiritual person may look upon a tree as an expression of God's Grace, of God reaching down to touch humanity, through this tree, through His Creation. A tree represents life, shelter, the changing of the seasons, even resurrection. To a spiritual Christian, every tree that sheds leaves in the fall represents the Easter story, the story of Christ's birth, death, and resurrection.

Likewise, a person may encounter another person who is angry. In normal day to day affairs, the reaction any typical person would have would probably be one of two choices: fight or flight. Someone "gets in your face," the automatic reaction for some is to stand their ground and respond in kind, for others the automatic reaction would be backing off or retreating.

A spiritual person might have a different reaction, however. Spiritual people may have a deeper vision regarding people and events they encounter. A spiritual person, upon encountering an angry person, may respond with compassion and understanding. Perhaps this angry person is having a bad day, having sufferred a loss or some traumatic or fearful event. A spiritual person might look beyond the anger into the person, and into the motivations that cause the angry behavior.

Spiritual people see things differently than others. Spiritual people live in a different place. When John the Baptist came preaching, when Jesus came preaching, what were the first things they said? The first sermon both preached started with… "repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand." What does "at hand" mean? It seems to mean that the Kingdom is here and now, within our grasp.

In Roman times, there was a Christian Bishop in a north African town called Hippo. His name was Augustine, and he wrote a book called the "City of God." In this book, he explained that Rome was a big metropolis, with people coming and going, trade and commerce happening, along with all other aspects of a major metropolitan life. The story Augustine told, however, was of a city within the city of Rome, a Kingdom within the Kingdom. And this Kingdom was, is, the Kingdom of God. And within this Kingdom within, people live a life different, see things differently than others. People who dwell within the Kingdom recognize each other, see each other, and find fellowship with each other. They see something beyond the day to day activities of the city, something beyond themselves, and something different within themselves.

Jesus once said that the rain falls on just and unjust people alike. Some people interpret this to say that rain falls in good people and bad people, as if the rain were a bad thing. Another way to view the scripture is to understand the rain as the Grace of God, pouring down in everyone, 24 hours a day, seven days a year. Imagine that, the Grace of God pouring down on all of Creation all of the time.

If this is so, then what is the difference between the just person and the unjust person? What is the difference between the righteous and the unrighteous? Between the Spiritual and the nonSpiritual person? Perhaps the Spiritual person has eyes to perceive the Grace, the Unconditional Love of God, which rains down upon everyone all the time. The Spiritual person has a heart open to receive it. The Spiritual person has a mind open to perceive it.

Salvation, the Kingdom, Eternal life, is like a treasure chest filled with gold that sits on everyone's doorstep. With the treasure on everyone's doorstep, the relevant question becomes, who is aware of this treasure, who is using it, who is sharing it? The converse question is, who has forgotten about the treasure, or is unaware of it? Whose treasure is sitting idle, collecting dust?

Perhaps Spirituality is about becoming aware of the gift. Perhaps the task of Spirituality is taking time to look, listen, and feel the Spirit, the Grace of God, which is raining down on all of Creation all the time.

Amen