Our electricity was off, then briefly on, then off again. Our house is all electric–built during the years when there was an artificial natural gas shortage. It is strange to be home, yet not feeling at home. Nothing worked. It’s summer, so sunlight lasts deeper into the evening. But it’s dark in the house.
I know every restaurant with WiFi and available electric outlets in town. Both of them. They had no power either. Nursing the laptop and cell phone batteries meant little Web research and brief encounters with email.
Finally pulled a book out of my stack waiting to be read and settled down. Reading by the light of a flashlight reminded me of being a kid and reading under the covers when I was supposed to be sleeping.
“Why Jesus” by Ravi Zacharias was the book of the day. Almost finished it. He takes on the New Age or New Spirituality movements. Interesting–except that he thinks massage is a New Age practice. Loosen up, Ravi, it makes every muscle in your body feel better and you feel great. Don’t care about philosophy at that point.
As he details all the side roads of America’s somewhat superficial adoption of Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism and whatever else thrown into the spirit cocktail, I thought about my spiritual journey. I began meditating a long time ago. Then was introduced to TM, but that lacked depth. Tried Zen, same thing. You can meditate for psychological healing (Psychosynthesis by Roberto Asagioli, I seem to recall).
A friend told me to read “The Other Side of Silence” by Morton Kelsey. That was more than 30 years ago. Specifically Christian meditation. Then you study such people as the Desert Fathers, John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila and more. I’ve practiced the Christian tradition for the ensuing 32 years. Much more depth.
I quit reading Depak Chopra 20 years ago. Never got into Oprah. Zacharias debunks both. He’s right. Superficial. Concoct a mixture of many religions while disavowing religion.
Lack of power actually led me to powerful insights by thinking about this book. You never know where God will take you–if you sit still and listen.
Faith Venture 
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