Q05

Have you had any particularly spiritual experiences this past year? How has this experience affected you? "Spiritual" can be broadly defined to include secular spiritual experiences: artistic, cultural, and so forth.

I try very hard to find the spiritual things in everyday life. The rush of wind on the back of a motorcycle and how it blocks out everything else in the world so all you feel is the energy of the bike and the road; The feeling of the sun on an outcropping that it took hours to hike to; holding a family friend's five-hour old baby girl. They're all spiritual in their own way.

I've had glimpses of what it's like to be serene in the face of others' anger and to not take it personally. This is something that's occurring more frequently and with a wider range of people - including now ones that I have a stake in their good opinion of me. I think if I can develop this ability it will help me to be more present with the people in my life and less frightened when things go wrong. 

I've rediscovered how important my faith is and how much it's kept me going while my marriage is in flux. Been praying the rosary daily and just putting more trust in G-d's will. Without my faith - and my sense of humor - I'd likely be in the psych ward right now.

Havasupai Falls. I learned about the person I want to become. it made me want to get back up and dust myself off. To become a good man who helps people, not brings them down.

Giving birth felt like a mystical and spiritual experience. I felt as if in the balance between life and death. 

Having the kids from Colombia come and stay in my home. It was such a miracle and a blessing. 

I once heard that love does not die or disappear when someone passes away, and I have experienced that this past year. It's like it's all around us, all the time. Love, love, love.

Meditation has become an important part of my life, although I can't say it feels particularly spiritual. It has made me more aware of the workings of my mind and the difference between that and the reality of life...which may, in itself, be a spiritual discovery. Time will tell.

Israel. Inherently spiritual. Flawed, but holy.

I was asked to read Torah at a friend's community in Colorado. I was learning and practicing the reading on the flight to CO, using an iPhone app. I was sitting in a window seat on the plane, and found it to be spiritual and meaningful to be learning a Torah reading from 30,000 feet above land, while soaring over the clouds. 

I have had too few spiritual experiences in the past year. I have been trying to reconnect through study, prayer, and music but haven't been trying that hard. I do experience spirituality when i am looking into my childrens eyes... those are special moments.