Spirituality
Requires Freedom
“Each
string of a wind harp responds with a different note to the same
breeze. What activity makes you personally resonate most strongly,
most deeply.”
Fr. David
Steindl-Rast
Another quote from David
Steindl-Rast states: “Wherever we may come alive, that is the
area in which we are spiritual.” So, what makes you come alive?
Where do you feel most comfortable in your own skin? What is the
community of people with whom you feel most at home; with whom you
resonate most easily and naturally. When we are doing what makes us
happy with people we love, that is a spiritual experience. That
feeling of belonging to a tribe is the most human-mammal experience
we can have. It's the foundation of every supportive community, every
worthy community project and, unfortunately, some that are not so
good. Team building happens in sports, in politics, in business and
also in gangs and cults. As a counselor, every client I saw who had
been part of a gang, cult or extremely restrictive religious community
told me that they felt welcomed and valued. “It felt like a
family.”
We are drawn to
like-minded people; people who welcome us as “one of them.” When
we have opportunities to be part of a creative project, especially
one that benefits others, that's just about the best feeling in the
world. We come fully into our own soulfulness, fully human. That's the
hallmark of love in action. But love requires freedom, and authentic
spirituality recognizes free will—the ability to choose to be in or
out without retribution. A true spiritual community does not teach
hate for anyone else, nor does it require fealty and loyalty to the
leader or to the group. What it does instead is value each individual
for him/herself, and treasure the unique contributions that person
makes to the community. Freedom is the determining factor between
true spirituality and fraudulent spirituality.
In a climate of freedom,
one can bring all of themselves to the service of the community.
Belonging does not mean surrendering one's individuality. In fact, it
is in bringing that individuality to the greater cause that one can
truly shine. So, again, what sets your heart on fire? What wakes you
to action? What makes you come alive? That is where your spirituality is best expressed. Go and do that.
In the Spirit,
Jane
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