The Holy Ordinary: A Way to God - Softcover

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Mark Longhurst is a writer and “ordinary mystic.” He is a member of the new monastic “Community of the Incarnation” and works as the Publications Manager at the Center for Action and Contemplation. A former pastor, he served United Church of Christ churches for ten years and worked as a faith-based social justice activist in the Boston area for ten more. A graduate of Harvard Divinity School, and a longtime yoga-practitioner, he runs two Substack newsletters at marklonghurst.substack.com. Mark lives in western Massachusetts with his family. 

Auszug. © Genehmigter Nachdruck. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.

The global crises of our time demand that our spiritualities no longer navel gaze. That’s the criticism, at least, of contemplation. How can we pray when the world is burning from fossil fuels and being torn apart by war? To me, it’s more urgent to ask, How can we not pray in times like these? The true mystics are not those who retreat from the world but who find union with it. We are the ones whose intimacy with God and Life itself is such that our eyes are wide open to reality and our hearts necessarily break with those who suffer. We are not ones who flee from reality—but see it, face and transform it. To paraphrase a famous story by Jesus, a mystic cannot cross to the other side when the homeless, the undocumented immigrant, or the refugee, is lying in the road. Union with God means union with each other, the most marginalized, and the planet. Otherwise, we’re not in union at all.

This book is the fruit of years of study, teaching, and struggling to find a way to honor my soul’s desire for depth and relationship with God amidst all the daily demands. These short reflections, usually engaging the Bible, are ways that I have made sense of a deep yearning for God and deep love that I have for life.

I don’t want to have a relationship with God (or Reality, or Love, fill in your word) that dwells on the surface. Life is too short and precious. And yet, perhaps like you, I’m not called to live in a monastery and dedicate my days only to solitude and prayer. What I’ve discovered is that we don’t have to become professionally religious in order to live as monks and nuns in our hearts. I can be a devoted dad and partner while being fully devoted to Love. I can awaken to Divine Presence in the holy ordinary, and so can you.