Thoughts on the spiritual experience

This is a ramble. You've been warned. ;)

It's somewhat of a misnomer in politicized Christian culture to refer to the 'Christian Walk' as 'the spiritual experience'. It's not really the words themselves, but the idea of a wishy washy subtext that they carry. It scares people, and some people run from things that scare them, instead of approaching them with a critical thinking mindset. At any rate, here are a few thoughts brewed from the post-europe experience.

One of our very good friends wrote an email recently expressing how disconnected she felt after going back to her home country. Lost was a good word she used to describe the feeling, and I think I know why. Truely the idea of fellowship does not only occur in Christian circles, and the degree of intimacy that was involved in T's school program developed some very strong emotional bonds that transcended into spiritual. I strongly believe that God is in the 'Christian fellowship' equally as he is in non-believer fellowship. It was apparent that after the disconnection that was going back home, there was a loss of that intimate support group. I found myself asking two questions: Why? and why aren't we experiencing similar sense of loss?
As for the why, I suppose that the proof is in the pudding. That the person experiencing such loss does not have a spiritual community in which to ask for support. And truly, this shows a necessity for such a spiritual community. Of course, I look at the micro-community that was instantly developed when we were in Holland and immediately apply God's influence to it. It was clearly apparent. However, when these people went home, perhaps there is no God influence in their spiritual support circles. Perhaps they are truly superficial.

Really, I just answered my second question: we don't experience that loss because our sense of spiritual fellowship and community is tied into something much deeper.

But that begs the question then: why are people lonely in our chruches? Why are people feeling lost and perhaps without a true intimate group which they can rely on? Maybe these answers make sense:

In terms of loneliness, i think the cure is found in a (very) small group of intimate friends. Often this ends up being the spouse in later life, but doesn't need to be a spouse. Now intimate friends are plentiful in the non-believer world, but I think the true connection will only come when that friend is also connected to God. There is something truly mystical about two friends who share an intimacy with God. It takes down walls and resets borders.

But why are these groups so fleeting and sparse in our churches? I think UBC addresses it in their (our) hardest value. Authenticity. The quest to be authentic with one another is a truly humbling experience that can only be undertaken in a trust environment. And establishing that trust environment requires risk, failure, forgiveness and repentance. And unless that authenticity is incubated we really won't see true expression, and as a result true intimacy.

I know that UBC's ultimate goal is that true expression. A true expression before God as our witness, an honest portrayal of a soul that is tormented but at peace, loved but frustrated. It will be seen in music, art, speaking, poets, dance, culture, film, interviews, video, conversation, compassion for the forgotten. We will see this expression, but time will wear us down in the process. I hope it is not too long.