The Wind in the Trees

What do you make of the fact that human beings have never considered themselves to be alone? No matter what corner of the earth we look to, no matter how far back in time we go, all people groups tell us a mysterious, awe-inspiring, frightful, yet fascinating Presence pervades our world.

So concludes Rudolph Otto’s, The Idea of the Holy, a classic book written almost a hundred years ago. He called this ubiquitous Presence, the numinous. Here is some supporting evidence for Otto’s conclusion:

1. Prehistoric cave paintings and artifacts associated with religious rituals and beliefs, suggesting an early human awareness of unseen, sacred forces.
2. Ancient mythologies and religions that personify natural phenomena or posit the existence of divine beings, spirits, or forces that govern the cosmos and human affairs.
3. The concept of “mana” in Polynesian cultures, referring to an impersonal, supernatural force or power that permeates the universe and can be harnessed or controlled through ritual practices.
4. The idea of “taboo” in many traditional societies, which denotes objects, places, or actions considered sacred, forbidden, or off-limits due to their association with the numinous or the supernatural.
5. Religious architecture and sacred spaces, such as temples, churches, or shrines, designed to evoke a sense of awe, mystery, and transcendence, often incorporating symbols or representations of the numinous.
6. Mystical or numinous experiences reported by individuals across cultures, ranging from encounters with the divine to experiences of cosmic unity or interconnectedness.

This universal sense of the numinous is NOT some mental, religious belief. Rather, it is an experience of Something encountered, an experience that does not arise from the five senses and which transcends reason.
Contact with the numinous always affects us strongly. We don’t take it lightly. It can inspire us to build temples or paint masterpieces; it evokes worship or causes us to “sell all.” Encounter with this mysterious force seizes us such that it can change the whole course of our lives.

And so I ask myself, “As a Christian who believes that the Holy Spirit permeates creation, do I expect to be affected by this Presence? Or am I living with eyes facing downward, trudging along with no vision, ‘digging the ditch to make the money to buy the bread to make me strong to dig the ditch to make the money . . .’ ” Too often, I must admit, I lose my way and don’t live with this kind of vibrant expectation.

What about you? How much do you expect to be affected by the “numinous” in your day to day life? What about having a goal to be more conscious of the Presence?