The Mysticism of the Mundane

While some might associate mysticism with trendy new age crystals dangling from a rear view mirror, in reality, Christian mysticism has historical roots and a rich cast of characters like Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, Thomas a Kempis, Thomas Merton, Henri Nouwen and Brennan Manning.

Simply put, mysticism is the belief in and pursuit of an experience of God; a quest to know the personal love of God.

While we might imagine this mystical experience happening in a church, or during prayer, or while engrossed in reading the Bible—which it certainly can—it’s also quite possible to meet God in the most mundane experiences of life! Brushing our teeth, listening to jazz, taking a walk, or watching the sun set can become a sacrament if we open our eyes to the presence of God through it.

We are grateful to our friends, Ben Sternke and Matt Tebbe, who pastor The Table, an Anglican church here in Indy where we regularly experience God on Sundays!

Matt and Ben wrote a beautiful endorsement of our book, When Faith Becomes Sight, and described it as “a field guide to cultivating the mysticism of the mundane.” We like that description very much. Thanks, Matt and Ben!

On this Shout-out Thursday, we’d like to introduce you to Ben and Matt, to The Table, and to the coaching organization they lead called Gravity Leadership, along with their fabulous podcast!