Glory to God

It has been a while since I enjoyed a powerful spiritual experience. 

 

True spirituality as the Bible says is to look after orphans and widows. This is not to reduce the gospel to some kind of ‘social gospel’ as some would think. Social service done as obedience to Christ can be accompanied with strong feelings. But that feeling is not the essential evidence of spirituality. 

There has been too much talk about spirituality as a kind of emotional enjoyment or feelings. And I have reacted to this kind of pietism, because those who would not react in a certain way are often perceived as spiritually dry. I would urge for more of ‘embodied spirituality’ in our context.

With this background, this blog post is about an experience that I had as I took a walk yesterday evening. 

I walked for about 3 kms, from High School junction to New Secretariat and back (in Kohima town, if there is anyone who needs that additional information of my location). At the Secretariat junction, I rested on a stone pillar and enjoyed a cool breeze. I needed it as I have longed to cool my head from hectic office work. I pass through the area everyday on the way to work but only during this walk could I enjoy the minute details of the beauty of this area. 

After having rested for a while, I started to walk back home. And this song began to play on my headphone:

Your Love oh Lord is like the oceans

Deeper than endless seas

Your Faithfulness is like the mountains

And Your Word never fails

Glory to God let every heart sing

Glory to God in the Highest

I looked up and there was Pulie Badze mountain peak. That was when I had this out-of-the-body-experience, if you like. I don’t know if it will qualify as a spiritual experience. My body went up to the mountain peak. I have planned to go up there some weeks back but have not been there yet. But I was there yesterday in my mind. And as the song played on, I lifted my hands to the heavens as a huge choir joined me in singing:

Glory to God let every heart sing

Glory to God in the Highest

The whole mountain was filled with the sound of drums and electric guitars. It was a euphoric experience. I had not planned it. And I didn’t put the song in my phone for anything like this. It was a ‘wow’ experience; an on-top-of-the-mountain experience. I have had that kind of experience years back. And I’m glad it is intact.

As I walked nearer home, there was another worship song. That is unusual because I don’t listen to them much. I used to, but that was back then. And the words are one of the best that I have come across. Though the emotional experience was less this time, I think the words are powerful:

It's the song of the redeemed

Rising from the African plain

It's the song of the forgiven

Drowning out the Amazon rain

The song of Asian believers

Filled with God's holy fire

It's every tribe, every tongue, every nation

A love song born of a grateful choir

It's all God's children singing

Glory, glory, hallelujah

He reigns, He reigns

It's all God's children singing

Glory, glory, hallelujah

He reigns, He reigns

Let it rise about the four winds

Caught up in the heavenly sound

Let praises echo from the towers of cathedrals

To the faithful gathered underground

Of all the songs sung from the dawn of creation

Some were meant to persist

Of all the bells rung from a thousand steeples

None rings truer than this

And all the powers of darkness

Tremble at what they've just heard

'Cause all the powers of darkness

Can't drown out a single word

When all God's children sing out

Glory, glory, hallelujah

He reigns, He reigns

All God's people singing

Glory, glory, hallelujah

He reigns, He reigns