Direct Encounter with the Divine

We cannot settle for secondhand religion. Belief systems and doctrines are not enough. Without inner experience of the Divine, our faith remains intellectual, and our ethical ideals lack power. Mysticism is not an escape from reality; it is the foundation of real transformation. When we encounter God directly, we move beyond obligation into a life shaped by love, wisdom, and action. This is not reserved for a few—it is available to all. Experiencing union with God compels us to live with integrity, compassion, and justice. The mystics understood that inner transformation leads to outward change. If we want a faith that matters, we must commit to direct spiritual experience. Anything less is empty.

May we seek direct encounter with the Divine,
allowing inner transformation to shape
our lives in love, wisdom, and action.

(inspired by Richard Rohr, A Spring Within Us; Just This; Elaine A. Heath, The Mystic Way of Evangelism)