Originally Posted by PureDose
For instance, on the surface drinking and eating is not spiritual, but Jesus showed how it can be. Or doing a job as a day laborer or handyman, carpenter. Doesn't seem very spiritual on the surface. But, it was. There was super deep meaning in Jesus taking such a job.
I'm trying to understand ... I definitely respect work of all kinds, but how do you mean? Are you talking symbolically or regarding the joy of laboring or something else?
Well, what is "spiritual"? Who calls themselves "spiritual"? What is the basis for comparison? Should we be comparing ourselves to anyone else on any basis? Does that even figure into this?
This term for me has not normally been anything I have considered as something to strive for or to try and see in others as a praiseworthy component. There are those I see as spiritual, and for me that is by no means that they appear as anything other then normal. It is that what they say and what they do is impactful.
They have power, force.. which I see as coming from spirit, which means wind, where they may even be at ease, but they still have force. Like how wind has force. They say and do things which strongly impact people.
Very often, they are difficult to understand. They do not always inspire just positive feelings. Positive feelings are not what people always need to have.
They may be quiet about it, or they may be loud. But, they have motive, motive towards spiritual aims.
They operate "in the zone". Jesus said "do not think before hand about what you will say when you testify to the authorities because the Spirit will speak for you". They learn as they do and say because they believe the Spirit of God will work through them.
They have a light in their eyes, which, at times, can be very bright.
They have presence.
But, above all, under everything, they have great passion.
I do not mean passion in terms of carnal passions. Such passions are weak. I mean passion of people who have suffered. Who have waited. Who have deep emotional, empathic connections with others. Carnal passions are surface passions.
They are metaphoric. You can see more in what they are saying and doing on even ordinary things, because there is more to it. By nature, they operate on a different level, even if in the natural world.
But, all of this, these are descriptions of someone, of people, externally.
I think the testimony of Christ is what best describes them. And taking seriously the testimony of Christ is what best can get anyone anywhere -- whether that means one is spiritual or not.
I do not feel very spiritual myself. I ate two whoppers today, one and a half in four minutes to make it to a doctor's appointment. I have felt full ever since. I only did a few things today, and I feel tired. I found myself struggling with carnal desires a few times today and it is hard to put off. I dealt with fear and distrust multiple times today.
I am very wary of acting in any way, because then it can literally become acting, which I find I am all too good at and very often will get so far into acting out a role I don't know who I am.
I mean, we can be asked to act in certain roles, like life is a play and we are not given a script, exactly, but we are given examples. Who is spiritual, what is spiritual, what are the components of what they do so we can act like them.
Even if you "be" the role, it is still an attempt to depict someone else.
Act like a teacher. Act like a good student. Act well mannered. Act like a nurse. Act like a programmer. Act like a manager.
All that can be fine if there is a good motive for it to obtain good objectives. Too often the role itself is an end to itself, to fit in, to be invisible, or to be well regarded -- as opposed to do what must be done to achieve a solid and spiritual objective.