Experience in life has allowed some insight and wisdom.
It's provided competence in areas that have helped me find work and help others.
Experience is one of those sections on a resume that's important.
Many times people list their experience first to show just how prepared they are for a job.
However I also think there's a dark side to experience.
Experience means I've been there before.
The actions I'm taking or places I'm going are not new.
And though the anxiety and trepidation of many new experiences are long gone,
So is the excitement and anticipation of new adventure.
In ways,
Experience has dulled the edges of life and taken with it some of its sparkle.
Getting off of work on a Friday afternoon is great,
But I've driven down the road to my house many times.
At this stage in life,
I now have responsibilities over the weekend that bring their own challenges and mute my excitement just a little.
Going to bed after a long day and watching my favorite show or reading a good book is a welcome respite from a hectic day.
But I've been here before.
I've seen a similar show,
I've read a similar book.
Many of these things in life are no longer fresh.
The newness has worn off,
The luster of life has become a matte finish.
When I begin to feel this way,
I recognize it as depression.
Maybe I can blame father time,
But the cause doesn't matter as much as the repercussions and potential solutions.
Recently I heard Rob Bell define spirituality.
He said this,
Spiritual is the depth of life.
It's this animating energy that's been moving the universe forward for 13 billion years as it endlessly expands.
Present,
Around,
And in each of us.
And it never stops inviting us to new futures,
New imagination,
And new possibilities.
As he spoke,
A memory popped into my mind.
Pulling into my driveway on a Friday afternoon after work.
My 11 year old daughter running out to meet me as I open the car door.
The unconditional love and outpouring of enthusiasm as my feet find ground and I pull her into an embrace.
The bliss of another life elevated by my presence feeding back vitality,
Love,
And innocence to my soul.
I'm ashamed to admit that sometimes in those moments I allow my mind to be occupied by a confrontational email or a misstep I took that day.
But the animating energy is there for me to accept if I allow myself.
And as I ponder Rob Bell's definition of spirituality,
I see the gleam of one of life's corners that has been dulled.
There is a spiritual spark,
Beauty in that moment.
As awareness floods my mind,
I recount stepping into my house and being greeted by my black lab wagging his tail as if it's going to fall off,
Craving my touch and giving back boundless unconditional love.
And kissing my wife,
My soulmate,
The other side of me,
Who has agreed to tackle the joys and pains of this life together.
A rare and precious connection,
Providing me with the security,
Love,
Physical connection,
An unwavering presence of support in good times and bad.
And the invitation to step outside,
Spend time under the sun,
In fresh air soaking in nature,
Aware of the marvel that is life from the smallest microbe to the largest tree.
In the moments I have to sit and write,
To explore my thoughts with the chance of awakening my creativity,
These are the currents of the animating energy inviting me to new futures,
New imaginations and new possibilities.
These spiritual experiences polish those dull edges of life back to their original sheen.
And I realize life with its spiritual deepness has more sparkle than I could ever hope to experience and observe.
It's there,
Just below the surface,
Never hesitating to invite me to some sort of new creation.
So how about you?
Do you find life dull at the edges?
Things that once made you excited and happy,
Have they lost their luster?
Has the newness worn off?
We can place the blame on the fact that we've been there before,
Or things are just not the same.
Regardless of the reasons,
I believe there is newness just below the surface.
I believe the spiritual sparkle of life is all around us.
Do you see it?
Can you recognize the animating energy you encounter each day that drives new futures and new possibilities because it's there?
It's available to you and recognizing it is the first step to being immersed in its flow.
So I encourage you to allow yourself the opportunity to be open to the spiritual sparkle of life.
And perhaps the recognition will help begin the process of polishing those dull edges that threaten to mask all of the joy you can experience.
And maybe this process will open up a pathway for you to find the freedom and peace you deserve.
Thank you.
