The Sacred & the Mundane
Since moving to Los Angeles I have been re-thinking my idea of spirituality and what is considered to be ‘spiritual.’ I used to think that spiritual things consisted of going to church, doing churchy things, reading your Bible, praying, doing the right things (as much as possible) and following ‘the rules.’ To some extent there is a bit of those things involved but what if the concept of spirituality was expanded to include the little things, since I’m positive that God exists there as well.
So for me, spirituality has come to include eating ice cream at Scoops once a week, every week with housemates. Its hearing my kids (who are 3) say please & thank you without me reminding them. It’s my kids telling me that they’re going to miss me in the afternoon before they go nap because they know I won’t really be around to play when they wake up. Spirituality for me now includes throwing together a meal and it turning out great. One of the biggest moments of spirituality for me since arriving in Los Angeles has been biking, particularly down the PCH or along the ocean in general, hitting my stride, in the zone, the salty ocean air in my lungs and an ocean breeze on my face. This is one of the most consistently exhilarating and freeing times that I have had since being out here and to be honest that I’ve had in general for quite some time. Biking in general has become a means for me to process my thoughts and clear my mind.
These moments of spirituality aren’t manufactured in a church building, by doing churchy things, or following rules, these moments happen in real life. As I dwell, experience, and expand my personal notion of what is spiritual, I can’t help but think that perhaps, there’s not quite this distinct line, between the sacred & the mundane. Perhaps, the sacred & the mundane are actually one in the same, most days…
Jazmin Trammel, EUIP Intern 2011-12
Working at St. Stephen’s/Delaney Wright Fine Arts Preschool