Spiritual or Religious?
We don’t all walk the same spiritual path. There are many people in the world who are lifelong church members, who spend a lot of time in prayer and who are very spiritual. Others may go to church, but don’t have compassion for others and aren’t developing spiritually because their only concern if for themselves. Being spiritual encompasses different areas. Not all spiritual people are religious, but they’re evolving. They do things to grow spiritually. They reach out and touch other lives. They try to make the world a better place.
I think the reason so many older people reach out and seek ways to help others or to expand their world is when we’re younger, usually the main focus is a job and taking care of a family. As we get older and more people go out of our lives, we start to wonder about our purpose. Why was I put here? What is it I’m supposed to accomplish? If God has a plan for me, then why doesn’t He let me know what it is? We try to find meaning in our lives and start reaching out to others. This is one way to grow spiritually.
The husband of a retired schoolteacher in my parish was diagnosed with cancer last year. Although they’re facing this challenge everyday, she is still active in the church. She works in our parish’s food pantry, sings in the choir, and even taught a Lenten course earlier in the year. She may be in her eighties, but she’s still growing spiritually by giving of herself. There are many others in my parish, many of them retired people, who are still growing by utilizing their creative gifts. One of them, a retired music teacher, is the director of our chime choir. They perform for Christmas and other special occasions, and their beautiful music touches all of us.
If you are a member of a church and it’s helping you to grow spiritually and become closer to God, then you’re on the right track, but don’t discount other ways to expand your spirituality. One of the questions on my profile for a writer’s site asks “What do you know too much about?”
My response “Nothing. I’m always learning.” That includes growing spiritually by giving of myself and helping others.
http://cas.umkc.edu/casww/sa/Spirituality.htm
http://store.ourhealthcoop.com/?Click=13686
Click here to visit ourhealthcoop.com