Mystic Journey 2.0

At the start of 2007, I decided to fast* for 7 days while I sought God for direction for the new year. I expected to hear some clear word from God, but nothing specifically came to me during this time. Little did I know the journey God was preparing for me. I had asked Him for direction, and that I may know Him more. A few weeks later, I was on a journey that was not like anything I would have imagined, and it was taking me places I had never been.

Any journey TO a new place requires that we journey FROM a place, and we must pass THROUGH some places along the way. Sometimes we stay for awhile in one of those places along the way, but eventually we leave that place and continue our journey.

For those of us who are spiritually reborn - Christian or otherwise - our life should consist of a journey to knowing God more and more. Not just knowing more of the Bible, or knowing more theology ABOUT God, but genuinely knowing HIM more. Intimately. Knowing His heart and how He really is, not just what we have been told about Him.

Throughout our life as spiritual people, we tend to create our own image of God - an image that should evolve as we grow older. But, for many people, their image and knowledge of God stagnates at some point where they become comfortable, refusing to venture into territory that doesn’t fit into their current doctrine. Perhaps they are afraid to question their beliefs, or their beliefs appear to be working for them. In any case, they end their journey by ’settling’ in one place for the duration. I guess that works for them. But, I have always been one who likes to look at travel brochures to see what new experiences are out there.

My personal journey started out in a legalistic narrow-minded separatist Fundamentalist Bible college, but quickly progressed to grace churches, and then to Southern Baptist and the Fulness movement. Once I discovered the Holy Spirit, I dabbled in Pentecostalism via the Assemblies of God. Not content with their own brand of legalism, I ventured on to the Charismatic non-denominational church world. Each stopover seemed to give me new freedom, and a better image of God.

Currently, my journey has taken me completely off the mainstream highway and onto a quiet country road. I’ve ceased being part of any organized church or denomination. Why? Well, it certainly isn’t because I’ve backslidden … far from it! I’m very much a member of the church - the body or family of Christ - because I recognize that Christ is the ONLY Head of His church. On the other hand, organized religion in our Western culture is not very fulfilling to anyone who will not settle for less than all of God’s intentions for their life.

So, I have packed my bags and checked out of last night’s hotel, and I am now headed for the next place on my journey. This part of the trip is really beautiful and peaceful … must be the country road I’m on. Far more enjoyable than all that noisy traffic on the main-stream highway that I left behind awhile back.

My son said this about his own journey, and I couldn’t describe where I am any better:

“I know that I came into this world loaded with potential and creativity, but over the years I let so many other things define me that I’m not sure I even resemble the man that God created me to be. But I have begun the journey back to the beginning… back to the man God created me to be… and I feel I’m close to where I started.“

This blog documents where I’ve been, where I’m going, and the stops along the way - a sort of travelogue. Any journey into radical new truth - and a completely new life - requires that one ask a lot of questions: questions about what I believed in the past; questions about those things I’m considering now; questions about where this journey will take me. But, that journey is what this blog is all about. I’m enjoying it more now than ever. The view is truly serene. Come along and enjoy it with me.

* Fasting doesn’t affect God and ‘twist His arm’ to move on our behalf. Fasting is only for US - to deny our bodily needs while we ‘feed’ our spirit man and seek God, who is spirit. We don’t get any extra favor or special power from God by fasting.