Those planning to be part of these Sunday morning discussions will want to purchase (or borrow) a copy of THE MYSTIC IN YOU by Bruce G Epperly. This book consists of twelve brief essays, each of which introduce us to a different mystic. Some are familiar names; Francis of Assisi (1181 – 1226) and Brother Lawrence (1614 – 1691). Others are less familiar, such as Etty Hillesum (1914 – 1943) who was killed in a Nazi concentration camp during the Second World War. The mystics considered in this book come from varied religious traditions: Protestant, Catholic, Jewish and Muslim.
In every essay we are given brief biographical sketches about a particular mystic. Then the author guides us into reflections about how our own spiritual journey may be enriched by the teachings and example of these people.
Most of us do not think of ourselves as mystics. Bruce Epperly urges us to think again. Do you occasionally have an experience that feels like God’s presence – out in nature, or while you pray, or in church, or during an ah-ha moment of insight, or during a time of stress when you shift into a sense of assurance that all will be well? If so, Epperly believes you’re a mystic – someone who has direct experiences of the Sacred.
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