by Kathy Ruff
Living a “spiritual” life may mean different things to diverse people. Words can never seem to give the concept adequate justice or explanation, but I’ll try to explain it from my point of view — today.
While my underlying beliefs remain relatively stable, my understanding of and experiences in life continue to redefine what it means to live a spiritual life.
When I was 15, I had no idea what living a “spiritual” life was and equated it 100% with being religious. But when I was 25, my understanding grew as the realities of life had opened my eyes, especially after the death of a close friend (see Finding Your Spiritual Gifts below). Now that I’m 50, the truth about life, love and everything else I KNEW 25 years ago has evolved to unveil an understanding I never could have imagined. I believe that understanding and truth will continue to evolve until the day I die.
For me, living a spiritual life means having freedom while being respectful, honest, accepting and tolerant of the beliefs of others, even if I disagree. It means living a reasonable, trusting, courageous life following the passions I hold dearly and living a life of integrity. For me, that means allowing the Spirit of God within me to work through me in whatever form that takes. Sharing love, hope and a smile remain vital ingredients in my view of living a spiritual life. I value peace and justice and try to incorporate them into my life and share them with others.
Living a spiritual life means incorporating all the principles I value into everything I do and everything I say. It means being the authentic me. It means living up to what I believe is an ideal standard even though I’m nowhere near perfect. I now can accept that I’m only human and the best I can do is the best I can do.
I’m sure the words I’ve written barely tap into the surface of what living a spiritual life means to me, but this is the best I can do right now. The explanation is like a clear blue sky visible one moment and fleeting clouds that come and go. The clear sky is always there; it just may not be as visible at times.
Have you ever thought what it means to you to live a spiritual life? Are you doing it?
It is always a challenge to be you in a world that seems to think you should live up to these preconceived notions. You seems to have found that balance. I enjoy reading about your journey Kathy.
Nella Sabol