THE SPIRITUALITY OF ORDINARY THINGS

I made a grocery run this morning, came home, put everything away, and started tidying the house.

As I was wiping down the counters and putting things back where they belonged, I found myself thinking about how much my understanding of spirituality has shifted this year. To be fair, it is always shifting as I evolve through this journey we call life.

But this year, going deeper back into the way I was trained in Japan, while also diving deeply into my Qigong practice, has reminded me of something simple and important:

WE ARE STILL HERE

We are here, in these bodies, in these homes, in these relationships, in these communities, living these very ordinary human lives. And our spiritual experiences need grounding.

When many of us first begin exploring a spiritual path, there can be a strong focus on what we are tuning into, tapping into, and experiencing.

There can be that sense of WOW

Magic.

Something otherworldly.

And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Those experiences can be beautiful, meaningful, and transformative.

They certainly were for me.

But it is easy to forget that we still live in the worldly realm.

There are still dishes to wash.

Homes to care for.

Bodies to nourish.

Relationships to tend to.

Communities to participate in.

Responsibilities to meet.

Life still needs to be lived.

I could probably write an entire book about this.

So many people spend their time meditating—which is wonderful—and learning about different spiritual modalities—which is also wonderful—that they can sometimes begin neglecting the other aspects of their lives.

This is where the idea of the middle path, or the middle way, comes to mind for me.

It is also where I think about the importance of not becoming attached to our experiences.

An extraordinary spiritual experience can be beautiful.

A profound meditation can be beautiful.

An intuitive insight can be beautiful.

But none of these things, by themselves, necessarily make us more present, compassionate, grounded, or kind.

Spirituality is not about how much time you spend meditating.

It is not about how many spiritual courses you have taken or certifications you have attained.

It is not about how many intuitive insights you receive or how many extraordinary experiences you have had.

All of those things can be beautiful.

Again, they were meaningful and beautiful to me, too.

But for me, they mean very little if they aren't also helping me become a better human being.

Some of the most spiritual people I have ever encountered are what we might call “simple” people.

They take care of their homes.

They take care of their bodies.

They care for their friends, family, and community.

They take care of the environment around them.

They care deeply, while also understanding what is and is not within their control.

They stay present.

They understand that the past is gone.

The future is not yet here.

All we truly have is this moment.

And they live from that awareness.

Not holding on to the past.

Not becoming attached to the future or all of the what-ifs.

Simply allowing.

For myself, I am learning to become more conscious of this.

So I start with my home.

I don't leave dishes overnight.

I clean the counters every day.

Once a week, I do a thorough vacuuming and mopping of the areas where we spend the most time.

I take care of my plants.

I keep the front door and porch area clean and free of clutter and dust.

I eat as cleanly as I can.

I continue to sit in Reiki practice every day and dive deeply into my Qigong studies.

Simple things.

Ordinary things.

But I am finding that when I take care of these simple things—and when I stop trying so hard to control how life unfolds—something shifts.

Life begins to unfold in its own way.

I am no longer constantly pushing, searching, reaching, or trying to make things, situations, or people happen.

Well… for the most part.

I am human, after all.

But there is more allowing now.

More trust.

More presence.

And perhaps that is part of the practice, too.

Maybe spirituality isn't always about reaching higher.

Maybe sometimes it is about coming back down.

Back into the body.

Back into the home.

Back into the present moment.

Back into the very ordinary things that make up a human life.

So my encouragement to you is this:

Take care of the daily things that matter.

Take care of your home.

Take care of your body.

Take care of the people and environment around you.

Give yourself permission to rest.

Make room for fun, joy, creativity, and ordinary human experiences.

Let go of the need to constantly search for the next spiritual experience.

And let your ego go as much as you can—because the universe, Source, or whatever word resonates with you probably knows more than you do anyway.

Sometimes the practice is simply washing the dishes.

Sweeping the floor.

Watering your plants.

Taking care of yourself.

Being fully present with the people you love.

Doing what is in front of you.

And then, when you've done what you can…

Sit back.

Breathe.

Allow.

And let life surprise you.

Peace,

Sok Hwee