Yesterday I was in a 3 hour meeting with a bunch of preachers. Great folks. One of the things that we talked about was spirituality. If you had five minutes to define that word, and you had to do it in one sentence, what would you say?
Think about it for a while and then come back to the blog............
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what did you come up with? What is spirituality? Over the years, I would have defined it in different ways, but at 52, I seem to be stuck on selfishness. It is so sneaky. At 52 I would define spirituality as the journey of learning to give yourself away in the name of Jesus Christ.
What new thing are you learning? What books are you reading? What are you doing that challenges your life paradigm? Do you see selfishness within yourself? Do you fight it? How?
Spirituality- the journey of learning to give yourself away in the name of Jesus Christ.
It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.
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6 comments:
The meaning of spirituality is not easily defined, but I can tell you what it looks like (a story from today's Kansas City Star.)
Last week, homeless men at the Kansas City Rescue Mission raised more than $132. to give to Haiti relief.
A homeless man who is 30 years old, and trying to turn his life around, gave $5.00.
This is spirituality.
Since you asked me to sit here and think for 5 minutes, which I hadn't planned on doing, you are now going to get my one sentence definition of "spirituality". It would be: my own personality enhanced by the knowledge that the Holy Spirit lives in me.
Of course, after reading what you wrote, I felt a bit selfish or selfcentered--at first. Then I thought about it again, and I'm satisfied with my definition.
I'm reading good stuff and learning good stuff and sharing good stuff. It's an awesome experience and I'm feeling so much better these days.
Time was when the term spirituality spoke volumes to me. I always placed that term right up there with faith in Christ; however, I have discovered in my older age that it is sometimes used loosely by those who do not have the faith that goes along with the it. ie: non-Christians who want to own some kind of faith but, perhaps, don't really have one. The term spirituality can be loosely associated with the faith with which you are speaking and describe.
I'm not sure I'm making any sense...but
I love your definition of spirituality. I just would hope that, when the term is used, it really portrays what you and I believe.
M.A.
Spirtuality - being Spirit filled and Spirit led.
M.A.
Books I am reading. Blue Like Jazz. Just finished chapter 4 (self absorption) and looking forward to what lies ahead. A friend I am in class with gave the book to me. Monday I finished Jesus Wants to Save Christians. Powerful message. The Eucharist. Left me feeling naked. Can't get it out of my head. I think that was the authors purpose. An older guy at WCC turned me on to the book on Christmas Eve. I need to sit down and talk to him about it. I have been feeling very "Spiritual" for months now. It is something I really can't put into words, but it fills me and all I want to do is pour it onto others the best way I know how......through encouragement.
A Friend
My comment was just as poorly stated as I was afraid it was. Maybe I can say it better this morning.
The term spiritual, the derivitive of spirituality, is often used to describe things unassociated with Christianity. I've heard it used to describe any number of things ranging from fortune tellers, Scientologists, vodoo worshippers, the American Indians (who by the way I definitely feel were spiritual in every sense), and the list goes on. Many times people refer to themselves as spiritual when they have no religion at all.
Could you clarify for me if spirituality originated from the Holy Spirit or if it can be applied to lots of things? I personally think it could be, as in the case of the American Indians. And...since it is not capitalized in most references, perhaps I am wrong...and it is just a general term.
To me...to be of "the Spirit", the Holy Spirit, means that you are filled with the Holy Spirit...it resides in you...and through your willingness to accept it, it pours forth from you in very generous and abounding ways.
I know I'm going on about this. But to me Spirituality is not necessarily a journey; it is a state of being where God's Spirit resides in us and pours forth from us generously.
Am I right or am I wrong? Or...please set me straight. :)
(You know who I am.)
You don't need to print this. I don't know how to contact you anymore except through this blog.
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