Have you ever had that moment when you finally found “your people”? The first time you experienced a deep sense of belonging, peace, and ease—realizing there was a community where you and all your quirks simply made sense. You didn’t feel judged, overlooked, out of place, or rejected. With them, life makes sense, and the world feels sweeter, more welcoming, friendlier, and lighter.

That’s exactly how I felt when I encountered the Christian mystics—a ragtag band of “renegades and subversive sages, holy troublemakers,” as Mirabai Starr calls them.

Unfortunately, they’ve gotten a bad wrap over the years and aren’t necessarily the friends you want to bring home to mom and dad if you’ve listened to the false rumors. Consider for a moment what you’ve been taught about mysticism or the mystics. Have you heard they are heretics, lunatics, quacks, disconnected from reality, too out there? I wouldn’t be surprised. I’ve heard many an evangelical Christian who’d likely be ready to burn them at the stake today and continue to disregard their influence in our Christian heritage. But those are allegations I’d like to put to rest because I think the mystics have wonders and mysteries to share that can inspire us and enliven our relationship with the Trinity.

Mystics Expand our Vision

And I couldn’t agree more.

We need a more expansive and relational vision of God’s Divine love, creatorship, and ability to sustain all life in and through Jesus Christ here and now.

While there is a place for doctrines, theologies, liturgies, and sacraments, there is also room for the magnanimity of God. I believe that’s a space the church often fails to venture, but it is exactly where the Christian mystic isn’t afraid to explore.

Is God Big Enough?

I don’t know about you, but along my faith journey, I arrived at a place where God wasn’t big enough to hold my trauma, pain, doubts, and fears. You might be wondering how that can happen when, as children, we learn right away that God has the whole world in his hands, even the little bitty babies.

Think about your own story. How often do you turn to God with your questions and doubts and believe he has answers? If you can be honest with yourself, how much of your retirement, job security, and children’s faith do you trust God to take care of without you orchestrating plans to make sure things turn out ok just in case God can’t handle it? How often do you invite God to direct your decisions? What about when you’ve lost a loved one, endured a hardship or suffering, do you let God into your sadness?

We all face moments when we wonder whether God is big enough—or close enough—to help. We’re disappointed that God didn’t show up the way we hoped, and in those difficult seasons our faith can feel like a distant memory. We grow up, but the God of our childhood doesn’t always seem to grow with us. I hear some version of this regularly in spiritual direction sessions.

I, too, have forgotten God’s bigness. While my knowledge of the Bible, theology, doctrine, and the dos and don’ts of the faith expanded, the relational God, three in one, did not. I knew answers in my head; people had heady answers for me, but my heart felt abandoned, alone, and dry.

When I first began reading the Christian mystics in our tradition, I approached them with some reluctance. Were they “real” Christians? But the deeper I went, the more I discovered they were a lot like me—or rather, I was a lot like them.

I was searching, longing, desirous for God to be magnanimous, abundant, loving, and present, not just words in a book. I wanted a living, vibrant, unifying relationship with the God of Heaven and Earth who is enacting ongoing creation today. The mystics carried that same longing—and I came to see that they would become my guides.

Finally, I had found my people—quirky, curious, courageous, paradoxical, rule-bending, devoted, creative souls who wanted nothing more than to dive deep into the love and mystery of Jesus Christ. These faithful companions have shown me the path to spiritual freedom, abundant grace, Spirit-filled living, and a relationship with the God of the universe who is present, active, and always beckoning us forward. The doors of my soul were blown open—and there is no turning back.

Writing a Book, will you join me?

I am excited to introduce the Christian mystics to you. They are good, good friends. As I’ve shared with those who follow along the wandering way, I am embarking on writing a book about how the mystics have accompanied me over the years and led me into a God beyond anything I could have imagined. If that interests you, I’d love for you to follow me on Substack or subscribe to WayPoints Newsletter as I continue writing about the mystics, contemplation, and spiritual direction.