For most of us, our spiritual journey begins in our families. Our parents may or may not have been religious, and if they were religious, they likely raised us in their faith. Usually in the teenage years, we begin to question the faith we were raised in, and this is actually an important stage of growth. It is a time to leave behind a childish view of God and to begin to develop a more mature relationship to the Divine.
Some people leave the faith of their childhood at this stage. They may be questioning their identity and what they believe. Others are able to find a more mature relationship with the religion of their childhood and to deepen their path. In either case, this is generally a very interior journey.
As we move into adulthood, it is normal to become focused on family and career, and in busy, over-committed lives, our spirituality tends to take a back seat to others' needs. But at some point, we may either hear a still, small voice, or we may get hit by a cosmic two-by-four, and we wake up to our spiritual longings.
This is when we need community if we are to continue growing spiritually. Going it alone only works for so long. Eventually we need others to provide inspiration, to answer questions and to be of support when we feel lost. We also benefit greatly from being with people who are their authentic selves and who value our authenticity. As we each grow and become more loving and joyful beings, our community also benefits.
Three things are essential in building a healthy spiritual community: 1) a shared commitment to being connected to something greater than ourselves, 2) a willingness to be vulnerable and gently honest, and 3) a shared sense of service to each other and to the greater community. That greater community could just be our friends and family, or it could be caring for the whole planet. It doesn't matter.
In these days of the pandemic, when so many of us are self-isolating, we may be missing a sense of community. Fortunately, there are several online communities that have emerged to meditate or pray together, or to chant or sing for global healing. Communities are essential for spiritual growth, and no one has to go it alone. If you can't find a community that fits for you, you can consider creating one by asking just a few like-minded people to meet with you on a regular basis (on Zoom these days!). It will probably be wonderful for you and could make a world of difference to others. You never know how the spiritual energy of a thoughtful, committed group of people might ripple out.
Judi Neal, Ph.D. is the founding director of the Tyson Center for Faith and Spirituality in the Workplace at the University of Arkansas and the president of Edgewalkers International. She is writing or co-writing four books on spirituality and consciousness. Email her at judi@edgewalkers.org.
NAN Religion on 05/30/2020