Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Perhaps Jesus’ most profound words are from The Sermon on The Mount. I marvel at his artistry, in the same way I do with the music of J.S. Bach. I’m at a loss for words. I’m breathless and speechless. Rich in spirit.
Blessed are the poor in spirit. I was, and still am poor in spirit in many ways. Spiritual poverty is a shallowness, a feeling of being choked by circumstances, inner thoughts, and other people. One who is impoverished of spirit has little humor. They are imprisoned in the skull – lifeless, listless, and petrified. They’re frozen, awkward people who cannot connect to intimacy, tenderness, and gregariousness.
Those who lack spirit have a dimness in their countenance and a furl in their eyebrow. Fidgety. It’s hard to make an intimate connection with those who are imprisoned by the impoverished spirit or fear. It’s paranoia manifested as shifty eyes, stumbling words, awkwardness, a stiff body, and a “gotta get outta here” message. It’s like Mr. McFeely on Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. He was always “too busy.” Couldn’t stick around.
The rich in spirit are supple and understand the warmth of aliveness. It’s a zest within. It’s a zip-a-dee-doo-dah, head-in-the-clouds type of love. The spiritually wealthy have descended deep. They have mined for love – so deep, so broad, so high. And from the wellspring of righteousness they bring back bucketfuls of truth, expressing themselves in words, music, and art.
“Where’s mine?” says the poor in spirit. “Mine for it deep within,” says the rich. The rich in spirit have everything and no longer feel compelled to grasp, flee, hoard, steal, prove, or dominate. The rich in spirit dwells in the holy grail of silence. When expressed from the depth of silence, what comes out leaves you speechless. The rich in spirit have found the treasure of unconditional love, always here, always deep, always now.