Writing in his weekly column on spirituality, the Catholic Times' columnist explains what living the transcendent life means to him. It does not mean, he says, being in church at all times. It can happen when we are in our homes, while eating or out walking, or doing anything, as long as the activity is offered up to God; doing so transforms and transcends our mundane concerns, and all of life takes on spiritual meaning.
What about the pleasures of the sexual life? Where do they fit in the transcendent life? It is not the pleasure of the moment that gives meaning to the sex act, says the columnist, but what happens after, when the fullness of love felt for one another can be experienced, bringing them the richness of living the spiritual life. In the sexual act they experience God giving more life to their relationship together. It is this feeling that we want to see continued.
In any activity we have reasons to be thankful, he says. When we eat, for example, we have much to be thankful for; food allows us to work diligently and to praise God. However, it does not mean that the more we eat the more thankful we are. What is important is our constant awareness of the transcendent meaning we have given to the act of eating. Many are satisfied with the eating itself. Content that bodily hunger has been satisfied and pleasure has been derived, they will not pursue any further meaning of the act of eating. But we should continue to be thankful, he says, for the energy received from the food eaten that allows us to pursue our transcendent goal in life.
In all our actions, if we are concerned only with the mind and body, we will do damage to the harmonious relationship we should have with God and also do damage to ourselves. The possibility of spiritual life is always there if we can succeed in keeping the mind and body from interfering.
We think we know a great deal with our minds but with some reflection we realize how little we know. When we eat we have little idea what happens to our food in digestion, and how it becomes part of our bodies. Few know what makes the car we are driving go.
We are blind to so much of life. We are surrounded by mystery, which is all about God's providence. Although this is the case, we are not completely perplexed with the situation. We are actually happy, says the columnist, with the situation, for we are, little by little, uncovering some of the mystery. Would it be necessary to have a God if we knew everything? This is one reason why we believe.
We believe that God in his providence is very meticulously keeping us and the world in his hands, directing everything always for the good. Our part is to be involved in this movement, which is spirituality and the transcendent life.
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