pat loughery

This morning I rode the bus EARLY so that I could finish my work and leave early to go to Mariners Opening Day with three friends.

I was reading J. Philip Newell’s excellent book on Celtic spirituality Listening for the Heartbeat of God for my upcoming trip to Celtic lands, and took a break from that book to listen to today’s episode of the Pray As You Go podcast (highly recommended contemplative prayer podcast, by the way). The podcast centered us n the goodness of God, then read the story in John 12 about the woman who anoints Jesus for his upcoming burial by lavishing perfume on him.

The podcast illustrates a shape of Ignatian spirituality – using your imagination to place yourself into a Biblical scene, entering into the scene with all of your senses, in order to fully grasp the reality of the story.

Today, on the 15 bus from downtown Seattle to Ballard, I smelled the lavish gift of a woman’s honor. I felt and shared the tears of Jesus and his friends as they knew what was about to happen. I was irritated at Judas for his smallmindedness, and at my own identification with his judgmentalism.

I felt the heartbeat of Jesus, entering into the scene painted by John, the apostle who nestled his head into the chest of the creator of all that is seen and unseen.

This moment was sacred, sitting in the first elevated seat on the left side of the 15 bus.

Newell’s book – which I’m just beginning, but think I”ll have to read again and again – emphasizes that Celtic spirituality insists that God’s creation is good, and that he is not separate from it. The Celts knew that every place was a holy place – a field, a home, a farm, a newborn child; all is God-breathed.

And today I experienced a little bit of what I know – not just the realm of nature, but the realm of public transportation as well, if I can remind myself to pay attention to the thin spaces, the moments and events in which the veil between what I perceive as reality and the nearness of God is pierced.