I’m still contemplating an interaction with an old friend of mine a couple days ago. 

We had not communicated in several years. 

We used to go for long walks together and have deep, wide-ranging conversations on spirituality, consciousness, & culture. 

He was a deep, contemplative  thinker, and by his own admission, also very ungrounded in the ways of the world at the time. Struggling financially, bouncing between jobs, and places to crash. 

I saw it was his birthday. So I wished him a happy birthday and asked him how he’s doing. 

His response surprised me. 

He seemed embarrassed and ashamed. He told me he wished he could tell me he was engaged in lofty spiritual endeavors with spiritual people. 

Instead, he said he had moved to New Hampshire and works a full time job selling motorcycles. 

Here’s my part of my response to him: 

I was just contemplating why being, or doing, something  “spiritual” needs to be something special &  separate from this life. 

A lot of times it seems to be a covert desire of the ego

In other words, it seems at the highest level awakened consciousness & divine awareness, one could, & would bring that illuminated presence to well … everything.

They wouldn’t need a special ‘spiritual’ job.

Wow! That feels like a relief. Like a burden lifted. 

The peace that passeth all understanding. 

There’s so many stories of people like this. 

The enlightened gas station attendant 

The enlightened car mechanic.

Toll booth attendant etc.

I remember once reading that in the highest stage of all, the most enlightened man is so extraordinarily ordinary you couldn’t even pick him out in a crowd. 

There’s something to all this that feels very true. 

The man who’s most connected to God is the one who treats others, kindly, and lovingly, and emanates a peace within regardless of his transitory vocation. 

So my sense is you’re actually on the right track. 🙏

– Brian Piergrossi