To talk about spirituality is, essentially, to talk about something which is beyond words. This language of spirituality begins from a Christian understanding that everyone is a valued creation, individually and uniquely made by God, like pots made by a potter (Isaiah 64:8). Yet, in life things happen that impact on the physical ‘pot’ of life and create cracks that provide a glimpse of something ‘beyond’ the tangible. Christians would view this as an opportunity to relate to the Divine Creator God.
As well as being physical and emotional, each of us was created according to the bible as spiritual. When we attempt to describe what being spiritual means, and spiritual experiences in particular; we often run out of words. What we can say is that each of us is made unique and wonderful, and God, the potter of Isaiah 64 is in the process of making and remaking us through life.
At times we glimpse him doing something good in us or through us; things that are breathe taking and wonderful- the ‘Wows’ of life.
At other times we might feel bumped and bruised by life, going through challenging times- the ‘Ows’ of life. The Japanese art of remaking broken pots with gold can give us an interesting insight into how God often can bring good things out of even the ‘Ows’ we find the most challenging, not hiding the cracks but transforming them.
Alongside these big moments of ‘Wows’ and ‘Ows’, we know God is at work in the present. At St Mary’s we talk of the moments of being aware of God in our day to day life, in ordinary everyday things the – ‘Nows’ of life.
St. Mary’s CE Primary uses this language and the concepts of ‘Wows’, ‘Ows’ and ‘Nows’. These are used to explore relationships with: – ourselves – others – the wider natural world and beyond – and offering the invitation to relate to God.
