By Deandre Mcdonald
The spiritual quest begins with a much deeper question—one that, for the most part, cannot be explained in terms intelligible to reason. We all feel this chasm at some point in our lives. Few of us, like Moses, turn aside to the burning bush to witness the mystery tearing at our souls. Yet, if we step toward the unknown, we discover with precision that the Divine mirrors our step.
The closeness in that moment quenches the unquenchable fire just long enough to astound us. It causes the scales within us to fade, creating a new desire for the unknown reality. The friction we begin experiencing turns our world on its head, and we notice, for the first time, a distant call that no longer seems to come from an unknown source. The voice of this Beloved feels like that of a lover—both familiar and, at the same time, entirely new and refreshing.
As the great teacher stated in the Christian text:
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy, he went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold all he had and bought it.”
—Matthew 13:44-46
On the spiritual quest, one finds that both the field and the pearl are hidden within the depths of the soul—the Divine spark beckoning us to withdraw from outer appearances toward intimacy. The intimate Lover reveals to the seeker what cannot be found on prescribed paths leading somewhere. The Beloved of our souls invites us to journey to nowhere—to become engulfed in cultivating an inner relationship that inevitably spills over into all we touch.
This journey is not a quick fix for a life out of sorts. When we, as seekers, continue searching through experience for what cannot be grasped by knowledge, life begins to realign itself to reflect Love’s true and unwavering nature. I know from experience that life loses its luster and grace without a spiritual quest.
Dear reader, I care less about which spiritual tradition you practice. I believe, however, that it should produce two things:
- Your practice or spiritual tradition should lead you to a deeper awareness of your uniqueness as an expression of the Divine.
- Your life should exude a relational quality that causes others to sense the residue of Divinity, like the scent of perfume rising from freshly blooming roses.
As you reflect on these words, if you don’t have a spiritual practice, consider adopting one that feels like home. If you are averse to organized gatherings with formal structures, try meditation using an iOS or Android app for guided sessions to help you escape the labyrinth of forms. Lastly, if the weather permits, take regular walks in nature—allow yourself to take in the sights, sounds, and scents of your surroundings. In doing so, you may catch a glimpse of the One who has already captured you.
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DeAndre McDonald is a retired Army Special Operations Civil Affairs Major who currently resides near Raleigh, NC. He retired in 2023 and is now a co-founder and professional leadership coach at Beyond The Trek LLC, a veteran-owned human performance company specializing in discipline, resilience, leadership, and spiritual fitness. Additionally, he serves as a high school Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) instructor.
DeAndre is married and, together with his wife, has seven children and one dog. An avid runner, he also has a deep appreciation for the poetry of mystic traditions. He holds a B.S. in Social Science with a concentration in History from Campbell University and an M.S. in Defense Analysis (Irregular Warfare) from the Naval Postgraduate School.
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