Welcome to Week 6 of our of Exploring Adult Spirituality Class. In this, our last class, I have no questions for you. Rather, I have thoughts for you to ponder.
If you feel a pull towards a particular religion or spiritual practice, study it. Read multiple texts, attend services, speak to practitioners and the spiritual leader. It should feel like coming home or a new adventure. Ideally it should feel like both.
If you are considering leaving a religion, also study it. Religion is a part of culture, family and identity. Children often get religious education, but many adults never study their own faith past the age of maturity. If all you have is a childish knowledge of your religion, you may not be aware of the full complexities addressed within it. There is a possibility that you don’t know what contemporary theologians are teaching, so read up. Approach your faith as a potential convert would and see if you can find the answers you seek. This will help you to leave or stay with grace and respect.
Often we define religious change in the negative. I no longer believe that. I am not that. Instead of subtraction, consider addition. Can you be a Buddhist Jew or a Catholic Yogi? Framing things in the positive may help you reconcile some seemingly disparate beliefs.
Get comfortable with paradox, contradiction and mystery. Spirituality opens new ways of seeing the world and new paths of understanding a purely empirical world view just can’t grasp. Earlier in these classes, I didn’t let you respond, I don’t know. That was to unlock shaky ideas that hide behind humility. In truth, being comfortable with not knowing something can be very liberating. It may possible bring you closer to the capital T truth.
Truth is always simple and it always feels like something you already knew, even if the thought itself is radically new. Truth resonates within you.
If you can’t decide between A or B, the answer is always C. Let me explain. If you keep weighing one spiritual practice against another and there isn’t a clear winner, stop. Don’t waste anymore time with A or B. Go find C. There is a solution you haven’t yet considered and that is the right answer.
Welcome to the evolution of your faith. Spirituality is a journey, not a destination. As soon as you have one thing figured out, something will shift and a new question will arise. It is not a backwards movement, it’s an indication of growth. Remember: spiritual life is never stagnant.
On a personal note, I want to express how deeply grateful I am that you have allowed me to be even the smallest part of your spiritual journey by participating in this class. I would appreciate it if you dropped me a line at rebecca@mamaguru.com or left a comment, so I would have an indication of how this class was received. Your feedback will help me as I develop new classes. Please accept my gifts of love and well wishes for your future into your heart.
Namaste,
Rebecca
Leave a Reply