We know from Scripture that the God we seek is the God longing to be found, and that we have an innate capacity for genuine and direct experience of God, often called mystical. For some who have experienced spiritual and sexual abuse, whether religious or lay, the light of this capacity for deep connection to wisdom dwelling within seems an impossible dream. For them, mystical experiences are only for special people, not us ordinary or wounded ones. However, theologian Karl Rahner refutes this in a collection of lectures in Theological Investigations, 1961-92. He said it is time to move mysticism from the margins to the heart of being Christian. Thus, any and all wounded Christians are included.

The reclaiming of this light of our innate connection with God may send us back to our childhood where God often begins to invite intimate relationship. In a recent posting Richard Rohr tells his story of a childhood mystical experience in his parents’ living room as a 5-year-old at Christmas. Gazing at the sparkling lighted tree, he suddenly knew the world to be totally good and himself to be totally loved. He never told anyone about this, which he notes as an ego decision. He suggests he does not think such experiences are uncommon and then implies it may be time to claim them and share them with one another. They are part of our human experience.