The Toronto Blessing:

At some point, i decided to go receive the Toronto Blessing. There had been a book written on it in charismatic circles, and I liked the amount of controversy around it enough to take the kharma Ghia up to Toronto, and see what this balloon of spiritual promise held.

I tend to believe in things when there is so much fruit floating out, that all people can do is behold it or argue about it. So I drove up from Boston where I was in school.
After a difficult border crossing- they assumed I was a hippie freak smuggling drugs rather than a registered art therapist and minister. I forgave them. I understand that few like Americans—been there on many borders. ( In Israel, i was held for days for teaching english to arab kids, even though i’m jewish by heart)

Anyways, I arrive at the building itself where the blessing is said to reside; in truth, as I recall, the blessing seems to start a bit further out metaphysically. Anyways, i pull out on the edge of the parking lot (not as big as the southern baptist parking lots, but pretty big, reminded me of the open air services in the 2nd great awakening). So I go towards the building, and each step, i’m feeling another level of density spiritually.

I figured I would just hang out in the building and see what happened. I walked in, and a large man greeted me, with something like a bear hug. Bless you brother, this man said. I felt both his sincerity and father nature, and I was thankful they had a good welcome man.

So i go in and walk into the main hall, there is man talking about Melchizedek and the order of priest. I’m like, ok this is “out” there-making the center of the sermon a meditation on one esoteric verse from scriptures which thousands of rabiis have been arguing over for thousands of years. That is like starting your sermon with resurrection in a Jewish audience—basically what Paul did!

He is asking people if they want the priestly blessing to walk on stage through this small baby pool. I love stuff like that, so I said ok great, I’ll try it. I stood in a long line, and tried to focus mainly on Jesus rather than the teaching itself.

As I approached the stage, my legs began to shake (bit like when i’m listening to a jack white album alone) and I wasn’t sure I would make it to the kitty pool. I did but head first. Fell right in. Those guys that are meant to catch you, didn’t anticipate the way I fell. Regardless, I was carried down to the side stage where I remained for an hour—happy, and something like drunk. I now, understood what they meant by being drunk in the spirit.

Anyways, i was still conscious, and able to love others who were placed near me on the floor. Because I love humor I was laughing at how child like it made us all. How equalizing it was. It’s not that I hadn’t been slain in the spirit before, but this time it was more of a surprise and had more joy. I really did, even then, try to judge a tree by its fruit.

Then this large man from before, came up and asked me how I was. He lifted me to my feet and said, bless you again man. “First we must fall down, but then we must learn to be drunk standing up.” That was his wisdom which stuck with me.

Then I was fine, stood and stayed for another service afterwards. In this service, a large man lumbered onto stage with the heart of a bear and a priest. At first, i did not recognize him. Then I realized, it was the man who had welcomed me in—John Arnot-I came to find out.

I slept in the chapel that night, after realizing I had gotten the Toronto blessing from the man who was holding it in place. I got “direct reception”.