Here it is, as simply as I can put it: a healthy spirituality is about sharing good, full, rich, and deep relationships with all that is.
All?
Yes, all!
Really?
Absolutely! The seen, the unseen, ourselves, others, the natural world, the metaphysical world, the cosmos, the ultimate–All . . . All.
How is that possible?
The infinite resides within us so all we need to do is find a way for more of it to come through us into the spaces we share with others.
Seems like a lot of mumbo jumbo to me
Maybe, but not if we observe how we shore ourselves up against really encountering other people. Have you ever walked by a homeless person on the street and refused to make eye contact with them?
Yes, of course. Who doesn’t?
Why do you do that?
I don’t want them to ask me for money or if they’re high on something I don’t want to provoke them into behaving erratically or violently toward me.
So it’s fear that prevents you from making eye contact with them?
If I’m fully honest with myself, yes.
That honesty is helpful because what it reveals is that at a semi-conscious level, you are choosing to create a barrier between yourself and another human being. In many cases your fears may be justified, but by never putting it to the test you may also never know how best to engage people who are different from you, yes, but who may also teach you something about the nature of being human.
So you’re saying that if I want a healthy spirituality I need to learn to talk with homeless people?
Maybe. I think the main point is both more abstract and more concrete at the same time. By choosing to be governed by your fear you are missing an opportunity to consciously engage an expression of the universe that could potentially teach you a lot.
Go on . . .
What I’m saying is that often it’s us ourselves that place the limits on our own spiritual health. We cannot relate to All if we cling to the barriers that we build between ourselves and expressions of the All that we find distasteful or disturbing for whatever reasons. If we want to become more spiritually healthy, then, we need to unearth these barriers within ourselves and discover what they’re really about so we can ease and heal them.
That’s a pretty tall order.
Yes, but look where the creation of such barriers has gotten us. Disagreement, conflict, violence, war, pain, suffering, and death. The world is full of these things right now, and most of them have been artificially manufactured because too many of us cannot see beyond our own senses of what’s important to us and us only.
So according to you, the world’s in it’s current state because there’s widespread ill spiritual health?
Yes. Too many lack the capacity to connect with others–even their own family members in some cases–in ways other than what will bring them immediate personal benefit, regardless of the consequences. The result is the world is tearing itself apart, and there seems to be no end in sight.
So what can we do?
Challenge yourself to become aware of whatever it is within yourself that’s preventing you from sharing a full, rich, and meaningful relationship with someone who is very different from you. Then, seek that person out and take a genuine interest in them. Invite them to tell you about their life. You may not become best friends, or even have another conversation with them, but you will have learned something about another person’s life that you wouldn’t have known before.
It’s as simple as that?
It’s as simple as that. Build connection wherever and however you can. Pretty soon you’ll have a fuller, richer, and deeper appreciation of all that humans can encounter in life. Allow that appreciation to work in you, and then see what happens. The results might surprise you.
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Spirituality doesn’t help us escape the world. Rather a healthy spirituality more fully embeds us within the world. Take care, then, to consider how you desire to use your spiritual beliefs and practices. Where will they lead you? Are they inviting you to connect or disconnect? How are they inviting you to contribute to the healing of the world?
Disclaimer: The advice and suggestions offered on this site are not substitutes for consultation with qualified mental or spiritual health professionals. The perspectives offered here are those of the author, not of those professionals with whom readers might have relationships as clients or patients. In crisis situations, readers are encouraged to contact these professionals for appropriate support and treatment if needed.
Reflective Life 